Basic HTML Version
Death of Stephen
209
and secretly aided the Jews in order to conciliate them and secure
their favor.
The learned Saul was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan
to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God; but a mightier than
Satan had selected Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen,
and to labor and suffer for His name. Saul was a man of much esteem
among the Jews, for both his learning and his zeal in persecuting
the believers. He was not a member of the Sanhedrin council until
after the death of Stephen, when he was elected to that body in
consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion.
[268]