members of one body； all moved in concert and in harmony with one another。
When dissension arose in a local church； as later it did arise in Antioch
and elsewhere； and the believers were unable to come to an agreement among
themselves； such matters were not permitted to create a division in the
church； but were referred to a general council of the entire body of
believers； made up of appointed delegates from the various local churches；
with the apostles and elders in positions of leading responsibility。 Thus
the efforts of Satan to attack the church in isolated places were met by
concerted action on the part of all； and the plans of the enemy to disrupt
and destroy were thwarted。
〃God is not the author of confusion； but of peace； as in all churches of the
saints。〃 I Corinthians 14：33。 He requires that order and system be observed
in the conduct of church affairs today no less than in the days of old。 He
desires His work to be carried forward with thoroughness and exactness so
that He may place upon it the seal of His approval。 Christian is to be
united with Christian； church with church； the human instrumentality
co…operating with the divine； every agency subordinate to the Holy Spirit；
and all combined in giving to the world the good tidings of the grace of
God。
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Chapter 10
The First Christian Martyr
Stephen； the foremost of the seven deacons； was a man of deep piety and
broad faith。 Though a Jew by birth； he spoke the Greek language and was
familiar with the customs and manners of the Greeks。 He therefore found
opportunity to preach the gospel in the synagogues of the Greek Jews。 He was
very active in the cause of Christ and boldly proclaimed his faith。 Learned
rabbis and doctors of the law engaged in public discussion with him；
confidently expecting an easy victory。 But 〃they were not able to resist the
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake。〃 Not only did he speak in the power
of the Holy Spirit； but it was plain that he was a student of the prophecies
and learned in all matters of the law。 He ably defended the truths that he
advocated and utterly defeated his opponents。 To him was the promise
fulfilled； 〃Settle it therefore in your hearts； not to meditate before what
ye shall answer： for I will give
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you a mouth and wisdom； which all your adversaries shall not be able to
gainsay nor resist。〃 Luke 21：14； 15。
As the priests and rulers saw the power that attended the preaching of
Stephen； they were filled with bitter hatred。 Instead of yielding to the
evidence that he presented； they determined to silence his voice by putting
him to death。 On several occasions they had bribed the Roman authorities to
pass over without comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into
their own hands and had tried； condemned； and executed prisoners in
accordance with their national custom。 The enemies of Stephen did not doubt
that they could again pursue such a course without danger to themselves。
They determined to risk the consequences and therefore seized Stephen and
brought him before the Sanhedrin council for trial。
Learned Jews from the surrounding countries were summoned for the purpose of
refuting the arguments of the prisoner。 Saul of Tarsus was present and took
a leading part against Stephen。 He brought the weight of eloquence and the
logic of the rabbis to bear upon the case； to convince the people that
Stephen was preaching delusive and dangerous doctrines； but in Stephen he
met one who had a full understanding of the purpose of God in the spreading
of the gospel to other nations。
Because the priests and rulers could not prevail against the clear； calm
wisdom of Stephen； they determined to make an example of him； and while thus
satisfying their revengeful hatred； they would prevent others； through fear；
from adopting his belief。 Witnesses were hired to bear false testimony
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that they had heard him speak blasphemous words against the temple and the
law。 〃We have heard him say；〃 these witnesses declared； 〃that this Jesus of
Nazareth shall destroy this place； and shall change the customs which Moses
delivered us。〃
As Stephen stood face to face with his judges to answer to the charge of
blasphemy； a holy radiance shone upon his countenance； and 〃all that sat in
the council； looking steadfastly on him； saw his face as it had been the
face of an angel。〃 Many who beheld this light trembled and veiled their
faces； but the stubborn unbelief and prejudice of the rulers did not waver。
When Stephen was questioned as to the truth of the charges against him； he
began his defense in a clear； thrilling voice； which rang through the
council hall。 In words that held the assembly spellbound； he proceeded to
rehearse the history of the chosen people of God。 He showed a thorough
knowledge of the Jewish economy and the spiritual interpretation of it now
made manifest through Christ。 He repeated the words of Moses that foretold
of the Messiah： 〃A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your
brethren； like unto me； Him shall ye hear。〃 He made plain his own loyalty to
God and to the Jewish faith； while he showed that the law in which the Jews
trusted for salvation had not been able to save Israel from idolatry。 He
connected Jesus Christ with all the Jewish history。 He referred to the
building of the temple by Solomon； and to the words of both Solomon and
Isaiah： 〃Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands； as
saith the prophet； Heaven is
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My throne； and earth is My footstool： what house will ye build Me？ saith the
Lord： or what is the place of My rest？ Hath not My hand made all these
things？〃
When Stephen reached this point； there was a tumult among the people。 When
he connected Christ with the prophecies and spoke as he did of the temple；
the priest； pretending to be horror…stricken； rent his robe。 To Stephen this
act was a signal that his voice would soon be silenced forever。 He saw the
resistance that met his words and knew that he was giving his last
testimony。 Although in the midst of his sermon； he abruptly concluded it。
Suddenly breaking away from the train of history that he was following； and
turning upon his infuriated judges； he cried： 〃Ye stiff…necked and
uncircumcised in heart and ears； ye do always resist the Holy Ghost： as your
fathers did； so do ye。 Which of the prophets have not your fathers
persecuted？ and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of
the Just One； of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers： who have
received the law by the disposition of angels； and have not kept it。〃
At this； priests and rulers were beside themselves with anger。 Acting more
like beasts of prey than human beings； they rushed upon Stephen； gnashing
their teeth。 In the cruel faces about him the prisoner read his fate； but he
did not waver。 For him the fear of death was gone。 For him the enraged
priests and the excited mob had no terror。 The scene before him faded from
his vision。 To him the gates of heaven were ajar； and； looking in； he saw
the glory of the courts of God； and Christ； as if just risen from His
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throne； standing ready to sustain His servant。 In words of triumph Stephen
exclaimed； 〃Behold； I see the heavens opened； and the Son of man standing on
the right hand of God。〃
As he described the glorious scene upon which his eyes were gazing； it was
more than his persecutors could endure。 Stopping their ears； that they might
not hear his words； and uttering loud cries； they ran furiously upon him
with one accord 〃and cast him out of the city。〃 〃And they stoned Stephen；
calling upon God； 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。〃
No legal sentence had been passed upon Stephen； but the Roman authorities
were bribed by large sums of money to make no investigation into the case。
The martyrdom of Stephen made a deep impression upon all who witnessed it。
The memory of the signet of God upon his face； his words； which touched the
very souls of those who heard them； remained in the minds of the beholders；
and testified to the truth of that which he had proclaimed。 His death was a
sore trial to the church； but it resulted in the conviction of Saul； who
could not efface from his memory the faith and constancy of the martyr； and
the glory that had rested on his countenance。
At the scene of Stephen's trial and death； Saul had seemed to be imbued with
a frenzied zeal。 Afterward he was angered by his own secret conviction that
Stephen had been honored by God at the very time when he was dishonored
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by men。 Saul continued to persecute the church of God； hunting them down；
seizing them in their houses； and delivering them up to the priests and
rulers for imprisonment and death。 His zeal in carrying forward this
persecution brought terror to the Christians at Jerusalem。 The Roman
authorities made no special effort to stay the cruel work and secretly aided
the Jews in order to conciliate them and to secure their favor。
After the death of Stephen； Saul was elected a member of the Sanhedrin
council in consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion。 For a
time he was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his
rebellion against the Son of God。 But soon this relentless persecutor was to
be employed in building up the church that he was now tearing down。 A
Mightier than Satan had chosen Saul to take the place of the martyred
Stephen； to preach and suffer for His name； and to spread far and wide the
tidings of salvation through His blood。
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Chapter 11
The Gospel in Samaria
After the death of Stephen there arose against the believers in