54 “Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death.
8:1 “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.”
Golden Text.—“Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What was the effect of Stephen's words upon the Jewish council? How did they manifest their anger? Verse 54. Note 1. (2) To whom did Stephen look in this time of sore trial? What encouragement did he receive? Verse 55. Note 2. (3) Then what additional testimony did he give? Verse 56. Note 3. (4) How was the wrath of Stephen's persecutors further manifested? Verse 57. Note 4. (5) Where did they take the condemned disciple of Christ? Then what did they do with him? Verse 58. Note 5. (6) Upon whom did Stephen call as he was being stoned? Who were the principal executioners? Verse 59. Note 6. (7) What appeal did he make in behalf of his persecutors? What followed this earnest prayer? Verse 60. Note 7. (8) Who is mentioned as consenting to Stephen's death? In connection with Stephen's martyrdom, what was the experience of the church? Ch. 8, verse 1. Note 8. (9) What is said of Stephen's burial? How were the brethren affected by his death? Verse 2. Note 9.
NOTES.
1. The words of Stephen had the same cutting effect on the Jewish council as had the speech of Peter on a former occasion. See ch. 5:33. This was because they resisted, rather than yielded to, the Spirit by which he spoke.
2. The rage of Stephen's enemies had no terror for him. He knew whom he trusted, and, looking away from the maddened throng, he turned his gaze heavenward to Him whom he served. He did not fear what man could do unto him (Ps. 118:6), and his faith and courage were rewarded in the hour of trial by the further assurance of the Master's presence.
3. Under the inspiration of this glorious sight, Stephen gave positive testimony to the resurrection and ascension of Christ, by declaring that he could even then behold Him through the opening heavens.
4. Stephen's defiant repetition before the council of the very testimony they had been endeavoring to have quashed, was more than they could endure. So in demoniacal frenzy they rushed upon him, closing their ears to the truth. This action was “with one accord;” it was a unanimous vote.
5. The stoning of Stephen was an illegal execution. The Jewish council did not have authority to put any one to death without the sanction of the Roman governor. They had grown more emboldened after their success in securing the condemnation of Christ by intimidating the governor. Now they dared to disregard this authority altogether. The sentence seems to have been the angry cry of a mob, rather than the deliberate decision of a court. The execution was an instance of brutal murder. Saul, or Paul, at whose feet the executioners left their garments, was a member of the council, and consented unto his death. Ch. 22:19, 20.
6. Stoning.—For the sin of blasphemy, of which Stephen was accused, the Lord had given direction to Moses as follows: “Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.” Lev. 24:14. “The rabbins state that the culprit was stripped of all clothing except a cloth about the loins, and was thrown to the ground from a scaffold about ten feet high by the first witness; the first stone was cast by the second witness on the chest over the heart of the criminal, and if it failed to cause death, the bystanders completed the execution.”—Davis' Bible Dictionary. In Stephen's case the principal executioners were the perjured witnesses.
7. As was his Lord, Stephen was falsely accused, illegally condemned, and taken outside the city and executed. Like Him also, Stephen prayed for those who thus cruelly treated him. “He fell asleep” is the inspired testimony as to the condition of mankind in death. See also Dan. 12:2; John 11:11–14; 1 Thess. 4:13–18.
8. “Were Scattered Abroad.”—This was a remarkable instance of Satan's overreaching; for when the brethren were scattered from Jerusalem, they went to various other places. The Lord overruled the enemy's work for good, making the wrath of man to praise Him. (Ps. 76:10.) Had it not been for this persecution, the disciples would have remained in Jerusalem instead of heralding the truth to the world.
9. “Devout Men.”—Note the difference between the burial of Stephen and of Ananias and Sapphira. “Devout men carried Stephen to his burial,” while the young men who did the common work about the temple buried Ananias and his wife in a merely perfunctory manner. In his burial Stephen was honored as was his Master.
