The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 107

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THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR 101 the glory of the courts of God, and Christ, as if just risen from His 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 Eoman 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 by men. Saul