God's awful rebuke of sin first meets us in this week's lesson; His wonder working in the church after sin was rebuked; then follows the trial before the council, the choosing of the deacons, the witnessing of Stephen in life and word and death. All this God suffered that the disciples might scatter and bear the truth. Philip seems to take the place of Stephen. Saul the persecutor is converted, and becomes Paul the apostle. Peter's eyes are open as his heart has been; the Gentiles come to the light; James bears witness of his faith in his death, and Peter in imprisonment; God hears earnest prayer for the latter; the mad, wicked king dies, his disease a manifestation of his inward depravity.
