FROM THE ASCENSION TO THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN

FROM THE ASCENSION TO THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN
HE IS COMING AGAIN
The blessed Savior of the world having fulfilled all things prophesied of his mission here on earth, and having, in a most solemn manner, taken leave of his disciples, visibly retired before their eyes to eternal rest in his Father's kingdom. With hearts full of grief and admiration they deplored the loss of the presence of their dear-loved Lord, and, with longing eyes, paid their last attendance till he disappeared. They continued, for some time, fondly looking toward the place where their Lord was gone, till at length two angels in the shape of men, and gloriously apparelled, appeared before them, and delivered a message of consolation to this effect: “Forbear, O Galileans, your further admiration: your gracious Lord, whom even now you beheld ascending to heaven, shall one day come to judge the world in as glorious a manner as he now departed from you. He hath not absolutely left you, but is gone to take possession of that kingdom which he will continue to govern to the end of the word.”
The apostles and disciples of our Lord (among whom was Mary the mother of Jesus, and some other pious women who had attended him in his ministry) being greatly comforted by this divine message, immediately returned to Jerusalem, where they spent their time in acts of religious worship, assembling daily in a certain upper room, which they had made choice of for that purpose.
MATHIAS CHOSEN AS APOSTLE
Peter had thought it necessary that a proper person should be chosen to supply the place of the perfidious Judas, that the number of the apostles might be twelve, as was originally appointed by their Master. To effect this, in one of their assemblies (which consisted of one hundred and twenty) Peter addressed himself to his fellow-apostles in a speech which he lead made for the purpose, the substance of which was to this effect: “Ye know, brethren, what the royal prophet David (Psalms 41:9) foretold, and which has been punctually fulfilled, concerning Judas, who was of our society, a fellow-disciple, and an apostle chosen with us. For a sum of money he betrayed his Master to his enemies, after which, being troubled for what he had done, he returned the money to the priest, who, not daring to put it into the treasury, bought a field with it for the interment of strangers. This fact, and the fate of Judas, were universally known to all that dwelt in Jerusalem, and therefore the field that was bought with that money was vulgarly known by the name of the Field of Blood. To Judas, therefore, belongs that which is mentioned by the holy psalmist (Psalms 69:25), not by way of execration, but of prediction: that, as he should come to a desperate miserable end, so the office which he had held with the rest of the twelve, should be bestowed on another. It is then our duty, according to this prophecy, to make choice of some one of these persons that are present (and who have continued with us ever since our Lord undertook the charge and care of us, till his ascension into heaven) that he may succeed Judas in the apostleship.”
The proposition made by Peter was unanimously approved of by the assembly; upon which two candidates were immediately nominated, namely, Jonas, surnamed Barnabas, and Matthias, one of the seventy disciples. The choice of one of these two was to be determined by lot, previous to which the apostles solemnly invoked the divine direction in the following words: “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of those two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas, by transgression, fell” (Acts 1:24-25). Having said this, they proceeded to draw lots, which happening to fall on Matthias, he was accordingly elected into the number of the twelve apostles.
PENTECOST
The number of the apostles being now complete, on the day of Pentecost,[439] they all assembled together at their accustomed place, in order to perform their religious duties. While they were thus employed, a prodigious noise (much like the rushing of a loud impetuous wind) sudden filled all the house in which they were, and a kind of fiery vapor, or exhalation, formed in the figure of a man's tongue; but divided a little at the tip, sat on the head of each; whereupon they were all immediately filled with the Holy Ghost, and, by its divine inspiration, were enabled to speak in several different languages.
[439] “This word is derived from the Greek, and signifies the fiftieth, because the feast of Pentecost was celebrated the fiftieth day after the sixteenth of the month Nisan, which was the second day of the feast of the Passover (Leviticus 23:15-16). And for the same reason it is called the feast of Weeks, because it was observed seven weeks after the Passover (Deuteronomy 16:9). It was at first instituted in order to oblige the Jews to repair to the temple of the Lord, there to acknowledge his dominion and sovereignty over all their labors, and there to render thanks to him for the law, which he gave them on the fiftieth day after their departure out of Egypt. In like manner, the Christian Church celebrates the feast of Pentecost fifty days, or seven weeks, after the Passover, or resurrection of our blessed Savior, to put us in remembrance that the Gifts of the Spirit were then poured out in a plentiful manner, as the first-fruits of our Savior's ascension into heaven, and that the Gospel began to be published by the apostles on the like day that the ancient Law was given to the Hebrews.
GOSPEL IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
At this time there were at Jerusalem many Jews and proselytes, who had come thither from different parts of the world, to the celebration of the feast. When these, therefore, were informed of the great miracle which had taken place with the apostles, and were convinced of the truth of it by hearing them speak the languages of their respective countries, they were greatly astonished, and knew not what to make of so singular an event. Some of them argued among themselves to this effect: “How have these men, who are natives of Galilee, and have continued all their lives there, acquired this knowledge? For in our respective languages we hear them preaching the doctrine of Christ, and the wonderful things God hath wrought by him. This certainly must imply something of very great moment. But others were of a different opinion, and, in a scoffing manner, ridiculed the miracle, attributing the powers possessed by the apostles to arise from inebriation: “These men,” said they, “are full of new wine.”
PETER'S SERMON
To destroy this calumny, and to open the eyes of the yet-deluded and perverse Jews, Peter, in the name of the rest, addressed the multitude in a most admirable speech, the substance of which was to the following effect: “Ye men of Judea, and all that at this time see and hear what the Lord hath done, be assured these things are not the effect of wine: ye know in your consciences it can not be so, since it is but the third hour of the day.[440] But this is the completion of a famous prophecy of Joel, who saith, In the last days I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (See Joel 2:28). All ranks and qualities of men shall receive the effusion of the Spirit of God, and those who were never brought up in the schools of the prophets, shall be enabled to preach the gospel of Christ wherever they go. And after that there shall be fearful and astonishing sights and omens, and many great slaughters in Judea, as forerunners and prognostics of the destruction which shall befall this people for their crucifying Christ, and from which the only way to rescue yourselves is, to repent and acknowledge him, which is the design of this miraculous descent of the Holy Ghost. Observe and attend, ye men of Israel, for you are chiefly concerned in this great affair. This Jesus of Nazareth being demonstrated to be sent from God by the mighty works he did among you, all which you know to be true; him, I say, being permitted to fall into your hands, you apprehended and barbarously crucified; him, whom God, by his determinate council, had given to retrieve you from your lost condition, ye, with profane hands, have slain. This same Jesus, whom ye thus treated, hath God raised again, delivering him from the power of death; and, besides many other things, the prophecies concerning him required that he should not long lie under death. Hear what David the royal psalmist says: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Give me leave, brethren, to speak freely concerning David, who thus prophesied. He died like other men, had a solemn interment, and we have his monument this day to show, and whence he never arose. Therefore, he spake not of himself, but by way of prediction of the Messiah, whom he knew would infallibly spring from his loins, and be a prince and ruler of his church. These words of his were prophetic, and literally verified in the resurrection of Jesus, whose soul did not continue so long in a state of separation as that his body should be corrupted; and accordingly God raised him up in three days, of which all we apostles were eye-witnesses. He having, therefore, assumed his regal state and office in heaven, and God having given him power to send the Holy Ghost, he hath now punctually fulfilled his promise in sending it on us in the most extensive manner; one great effect of which yourselves can testify, by having heard us speak languages which, a short time before, we did not understand. This great and important truth, therefore, I now proclaim to you, that God the Father hath raised up that Christ, whom ye Jews have crucified, and that he now sits on the right hand of him in the kingdom of heaven.”
[440] That is, nine o'clock, the time of morning prayers, to which the Jews generally went fasting.
BAPTISMS
This speech, or rather sermon, of Peter's, so wrought upon the minds of the people,: that they called out most passionately to him, and the rest of the apostles, requesting their advice what measures they should pursue, in order to shake off that guilt with which they had been so long loaded. Peter readily complied with their request, and in a most tender and affectionate address, told them, that in order to lay aside their infidelity, they must, with true contrition, acknowledge their sins, enter upon: the Christian profession with a firm resolution of never falling from it; and that they, must receive baptism from the apostles, who were thereby empowered to convey remission of sins to all true penitents. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in, the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).
In consequence of this affectionate address, those who were really touched with what Peter had said immediately renounced their former course of life, and proved the sincerity of their hearts by receiving baptism. On that day about three thousand people were converted to the faith of Christ, who continued assiduous in hearing the apostles teach, and in bringing their goods liberally for the relief of the distressed. Nor were the converts only impressed with fear and reverence, but a general surprise took place among all that saw these strange and early operations of the Holy Ghost, which were still farther confirmed by several miracles performed by the apostles.
LORD'S SUPPER GIVEN
The gospel thus gaining ground, those that received it assembled together for the service of God, constantly observing the times of public prayers, and receiving the sacrament of the Lord's supper; they distributed to the necessities of the poorer sort as freely as God had given them ability, spending their time in acts of devotion and charity, and exercising works of mercy to all. By the pious examples of these many others were induced to join them, which gave the apostles a fruitful harvest of their ministry, and by their repeated exhortations, others were daily rescued from the wicked and dangerous converse of the perverse Jews, and heartily embraced the doctrine of Christ.
CRIPPLE HEALED
After this wonderful reformation among the people in consequence of Peter's discourses, that apostle, accompanied by John, went one day to the temple about three o'clock in the afternoon, which was one of the times generally set apart for prayer. As they entered in at the gate of the temple toward the east in Solomon's porch, which was called the beautiful gate, they saw a poor cripple, who had been lame from his birth, lying there, and begging alms of those who passed him. As soon as the cripple saw Peter and John, he looked up in their faces and earnestly begged charity of them; upon which Peter, looking steadfastly at him, said, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” No sooner were these words spoken than the poor cripple was made whole. His joints became straight and his nerves strong, so that he went with the apostles into the temple, “walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
PETER'S SPEECH
The poor man, who had sat daily, for a long time, asking alms at the door of the temple, was universally known by the people, who seeing him walking and praising God, were amazed at the greatness of the cure; they therefore flocked in great numbers round the apostles, by whom the poor man kept close, being unwilling to part with those from whom he had received so distinguished a benefit. Peter, observing the astonishment of the multitude, and thinking it a convenient opportunity of increasing the number of his followers, addressed himself to them in a long and very pertinent harangue, the substance of which was to this effect: “Ye men of Israel, why do you look upon this cure as a thing strange? Or why do you attribute anything to us in this matter, as if it were in our power to perform so great a miracle? The God of our fathers gave this power to Jesus, whom you delivered to Pilate to be crucified, releasing a known murderer and a thief, and putting to death him, who came to give life to the world; whom God hath been pleased to raise from the dead, and make us witnesses thereof. Be assured, it is by belief in him that this man hath been recovered from his lameness. The man you all well know, having, for many years, seen him a begging cripple; and the faith we have in the power of him on whom we believe, hath wrought the remarkable cure at which you all so greatly wonder. I do imagine, brethren, that such among you who rejected Christ did it through ignorance, not knowing him to be the Messiah; and that the like was the case with your rulers. But by these means the many prophecies in the scriptures, that the Messiah should be put to death, have been fulfilled. Do you, therefore, amend your lives, that your past offences may be pardoned, and that, at the second coming of Christ for the delivery and rescue of the faithful, you may, by repentance, be admitted into the number of the elect. The Christ you have persecuted, and of whose resurrection we have been eye-witnesses, hath now entered upon his sovereignty in Heaven, whereby hath been fulfilled all the prophecies concerning him, particularly that of Moses, who truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, and him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul which shall not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. And not only Moses, but all the prophets, from Samuel, as many as have spoken,[441] have foretold the coming of the Messiah, with the destruction of those who should reject, and the especial mercies to them that should believe in him. Ye are the particular persons of whom the prophets foretold, and to whom the promise and covenant which God made with Abraham (that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed) did primarily belong. Ye are the heirs of this covenant, and God hath been pleased to make the first overtures of mercy to you, that ye might receive the gospel of his beloved Son, and repent of the iniquities which ye have done unto him.” This was the purport of St. Peter's speech on this occasion; and such was its efficacy, that it converted so many of his hearers, as to make the whole number amount to no less than five thousand.
[441] The account of the prophets is here begun from Samuel, because the schools of the prophets were first instituted and erected by him; and not that there was no prophet before him. The sons of the prophets spent the greater part of their time in studying the law, and praising and serving God, and some were sent on messages to the people (for all were not called to the prophetic office) and therefore it is added, as many as have spoken; that is, as many out of the schools of the prophets as were Divinely called to the prophetic office.
PETER ARRESTED
While Peter was instructing the people, “the captain of the temple,” at the instigation of the priests and Sadducees, came with an armed force, suddenly seized the two apostles, and conducted them to prison. The next morning the great Sanhedrin met, and having ordered the apostles to be brought before them, demanded by what power they had wrought that miracle upon the lame man, and who it was that gave them authority to preach to the people? In answer to these questions, Peter, being endued with an extraordinary presence of mind and elocution of tongue, spoke to this “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, we are this day examined before you concerning an action, which is so far from being criminal, that it is an act of special mercy. Be assured, that the miraculous cure performed on the lame man was wrought by no other means than by invoking the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, and God most miraculously raised again. This is he that was prophesied of under the title of a refuse stone, rejected by you, the chief of the Jews, and treated with contempt; but is now, by his resurrection, enthroned in power, and is indeed become the ruler and king of the church, the prime foundation-stone of the whole fabric. In him alone must salvation now be hoped for by all; nor can ye expect to be saved unless you readily receive and heartily embrace his doctrine.”
PETER'S TRIAL
The council, seeing with what courage and freedom of speech the apostles behaved themselves, and withal considering that their education alone could not have raised them above the capacity of other men (being neither skilled in the learning of the Jews, nor, as men of distinction, instructed in their laws), they were greatly astonished; and still more so when they recollected that the two apostles were of those who had attended Jesus in his lifetime, and saw the man on whom they had wrought the miraculous cure stand by them ready to attest the truth of it. From these considerations, they knew not for some time how to act, till at length they resolved to hold a private conference among themselves, and for that purpose ordered the apostles to withdraw. As soon as they were gone, the council entered into debate on the subject, arguing with one another to this effect: “As to the men, we have nothing to accuse them of; for that they have performed a great miracle is apparent to many, and the man that was healed is a living witness of the truth of it. Since, therefore, they have not been guilty of any breach of our laws, to prevent their further seducing the people (who are too apt to be led away by them) we will call them in and forbid them, upon severe penalties, to preach Christ and his gospel any more.” In consequence of this resolution, the two apostles were called in, and commanded not to talk privately or teach publicly anything concerning the faith of Christ. But the Christian heroes, whose commission was from a higher power than any on earth, slighting this interdict and all their threats, made answer, “That since they had received a command from Heaven to declare to all nations what they had heard or seen, it was certainly their duty to obey God rather than them.” This was a fair appeal to the consciences of their very judges; but their judges, instead of being satisfied with it, would probably have proceeded to some greater violence, had not the people's veneration for the apostles put a restraint upon their malice. All, therefore, that they dared to do was to repeat and enforce their menaces; having done which, they ordered them to be discharged.
THANKSGIVING SERVICE
As soon as the two apostles were dismissed, they returned with great joy to their brethren, who with infinite satisfaction heard the report of all that had passed. They then unanimously glorified God, who by his holy prophet David had foretold what was now come to pass: that the Jews should oppose Christ, say false things of him, deny and crucify him first, and, when God had raised him from the dead, oppose the preaching of him; that the princes and governors, Herod and Pontius Pilate, should combine against him, and the rulers should, in council, endeavor to suppress the propagation of his doctrine. “And now, Lord,” said they, “behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” No sooner had they concluded their prayer than the house in which they were was shaken with a mighty wind, in like manner as it had been before on the day of Pentecost; whereupon they were instantly replenished with fresh measures of the Holy Ghost, and, notwithstanding all the threats of the Jewish rulers, found themselves invigorated to preach the gospel of Christ with more boldness and resolution than ever.
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRE
The charity at this time among believers was very large and extensive. Such as had houses, or possessions of any kind, sold them, and deposited the money in the hands of the apostles, to be by them distributed in due proportions according to the necessities of their brethren. This a certain Levite (a native of Cyprus, called Joses, but by the apostles surnamed Barnabas, or “the Son of Consolation”) did with great readiness and singleness of heart, selling the estate of which he was possessed, and giving the whole produce to the apostles. In imitation of this good man, one Ananias, with his wife Sapphire, resolved to devote all they had to the service of the church; in consequence of which they sold their estate: but afterward altering their minds, jointly agreed to keep some part of the money, intending thereby to impose upon the apostles. Ananias going first into the presence of the apostles, with great assurance and seeming cheerfulness, produced the money and laid it at their feet. But Peter, who by Divine inspiration knew the cheat, in a holy indignation and abhorrence of so vile an act of sacrilege, reprehended him in words to this effect: “How, O Ananias, hath Satan persuaded thee thus to attempt to deceive the Holy Ghost, in purloining part of that which thou hadst consecrated to God's service and the use of his church? Before thy land was sold, was it not wholly thine? And when it was sold, didst thou not receive the full price for it? Was it not then in thy full power to perform thy vow? Thy iniquitous conduct in concealing a part of the money is not only an injury to the church, but to God, who knew thy private vow, that it was consecrating of all, and not this part only which thou hast brought to us.” These piercing words, together with the horrors of conscious guilt, so impressed the mind and heart of Ananias, that he fell down dead on the spot, to the great astonishment and terror of all present, and his body was immediately taken away for interment. About three hours after, his wife Sapphire went to the assembly, not in the least suspecting what had happened to her sacrilegious consort. Peter asked her whether the sum which her husband had brought was the whole for which their estate was sold. To this she answered in the affirmative; upon which Peter reprehended her in words to this effect: “How durst you both combine to provoke God, to try whether he will punish this your impious fraud or not? That you may see how highly God resents your sacrilegious intentions, behold the men are coming in who have buried your dead husband, and now they shall do as much for you.” No sooner, had he spoken these words than Sapphira fell dead at his feet, and the same persons that had buried Ananias carried her out from the assembly, and laid her by him. These remarkable instances of the Divine wrath filled all the converts with fear and trembling, and prevented, in a great measure, that hypocrisy and dissimulation by which others might have flattered themselves with deceiving the church.
PETER'S SHADOW
Miracles of severity were not, however, much practised by the apostles. Acts of mercy were their proper province, and healing the diseased and freeing the possessed, a great part of their employment. In the execution of this business the divine power so far attended them, that even the shadow of Peter passing by cured the sick, who, to the open streets, were laid on beds and couches, on purpose to receive the benefit of his salutary influence. Nor were these marvellous cures confined to the inhabitants of Jerusalem only, but the people of several neighboring towns and villages brought thither their sick, their lame, and possessed, all of whom were, by the apostles, relieved from their respective infirmities.
APOSTLES IMPRISONED BUT ESCAPE
The fame of these cures, and the great success which Christianity gained by the miracles and preaching of the apostles, reaching the ears of the high-priest, and some others of the Sanhedrin (who were of the sect of the Sadducees), they were highly incensed against the apostles, and therefore caused them to be apprehended, and thrown into the common prison. But that very night they were released from their confinement. The prison-doors, though fastened with the utmost caution, opened of themselves at the approach of a messenger from the courts of heaven, who commanded the apostles to leave the dungeon, repair to the temple, and preach the glad tidings of the gospel to the people.
APOSTLES CONTINUE PREACHING
Early the next morning the council again assembled, and, thinking the apostles were in safe custody, dispatched their officers to the prison, with orders to bring them immediately before them. The officers accordingly went to obey their orders, but, behold, when they came to the prison, they could not find the apostles. In consequence of this they returned to the council, telling them, that the doors of the prison were shut, indeed, and the keepers all upon their guard, but as for the persons whom they were sent for, there was not one of them to be found. This intelligence greatly surprised the council, who wondered how it could be, that, the prison being shut, and the guard at the doors, the prisoners should escape. But, while they were in this state of perplexity, a messenger arrived with news, that the men, whom they had the night before committed to prison, were then in the temple, preaching and instructing the people. In consequence of this, the captain of the guard, with some other officers, immediately went to the temple and entreated the apostles to go before the council, not daring to offer any violence to them, for fear of being stoned by the people.
APOSTLES TRIED
As soon as the apostles appeared before their judges, the high-priest demanded how they durst presume to preach a doctrine, which so lately had been interdicted them. To which Peter, in the name of the rest, returned them an answer to this effect: “We certainly ought to obey God rather than man. And though you have so barbarously and contumeliously treated the blessed Jesus, yet God hath raised him up to be a prince and Savior, to give both repentance and remission of sins. And of these things both we, and the miraculous power which the Holy Ghost bath conferred on all Christians, are witnesses.”
ELDERS WARNED BY GAMALIEL
This answer greatly exasperated the council, and they began to consult among themselves in what manner they should punish them. Their first resolution was, to put them to death, but this was over-ruled by the wise advice of a certain Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a man of the most distinguished reputation, and universally respected. After ordering the apostles to withdraw, he advised the council to proceed in the affair with great caution, lest bad consequences might attend their resolutions. He, told them that several persons had formerly raised parties, and drawn great numbers of people after them; but that all their schemes had miscarried, and their designs rendered abortive, without the interposition of that court. That they would, therefore, do well to let the apostles alone; for, if their doctrines and designs were of human invention, they would come to nothing; but if they were of God, all their powers and policies would be of none effect, and sad experience would too soon convince them that they had themselves opposed the counsels of the Most High.
APOSTLES ARE BEATEN
This speech so far diverted the indignation of the council, that they changed the sentence (at first designed against the apostles' lives) into a corporal punishment. They therefore, after remanding them into court, ordered them to be immediately scourged, which being done, they strictly charged them not to teach any more in the name of Jesus, and, with this charge, gave them their liberty.
APOSTLES REJOICE OVER SUFFERING
But this punishment and injunction had little effect on the disciples of the blessed Jesus. They returned home in triumph, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer in so righteous a cause, and to undergo shame and reproach for so kind and powerful a Master. Nor could all the opposition of man, blended with the malice of the power of darkness, discourage them from performing their duty to God, or lessen their zeal for preaching, both in public and private, the doctrine of the gospel.
DEACONS CHOSEN
The great increase of believers, and the ready access to the common fund for the relief of the poor, made the institution of another order of men in the Christian church highly necessary. Among the great number of converts were some Jews, who, by having been long in foreign countries, had disused the Hebrew, and spoke only, the Grecian tongue, so that they were considered by the common Jews as if they had been foreigners. These people complained to the apostles, that, in the distribution of the charity-money, an undue preference was given to the Hebrew widows, while theirs were too frequently neglected. In consequence of this complaint the apostles assembled together the whole multitude of their disciples, when Peter, in the name of the rest, addressed them in words to this effect: “It is not reasonable that we should neglect the preaching of the gospel, by undertaking the care of looking after the poor. Therefore, brethren, do you nominate to us seven men, who, have shown themselves to be faithful, trusty persons, eminent among you for wisdom, and other good gifts, that we may appoint (that is, consecrate, or ordain) to the office of deacons in the church, and entrust them with the care of distributing to those who want out of the public stock. In the choice of these, let it be observed, that they be person well versed in the knowledge of divine matters, that they may give assistance to us occasionally in preaching the word, and receiving proselytes to the faith, by baptism. And by these means we shall be less interrupted in our daily employment of praying, and preaching the gospel.”
This proposal was highly satisfactory to the whole assembly, who immediately nominated seven persons, namely, Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas. These seven they presented to the twelve apostles, who, by prayer, and laying their hands on them, ordained them to the office of deacons.[442] Of these seven, the most eminent for the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit was Stephen. He preached the gospel with a noble courage and resolution, and confirmed it with many public and unquestionable miracles among the people, insomuch, that by his means the Christian religion gained ground abundantly. Converts came in apace; and great numbers of the priests themselves laid aside their prejudices and embraced the gospel.
[442] The names of these seven deacons are all of Greek extract, whence we may infer, that, very probably, they were all natures of Greece, and that, consequently, by their designation, the church was desirous to give full satisfaction to the complaint of those, whose widows had been before neglected. Of the first two of these, viz., Stephen and Philip, the sacred history has given us a sufficient account, but of the rest we have nothing certain, except we will admit of what the Latins tell us of Prochorus, viz., that on .the 9th of August he suffered martyrdom at Antioch, after having made himself famous for his miracles: of Nicanor, that on the 10th of January he suffered in the Isle of Cyprus, after having given great demonstrations of his faith and virtue: of Timon, that on the 19th of April, he was first thrown into the fire, and, when he had miraculously escaped thence, he was fixed upon a cross at Corinth: of Parmenas, that on the 23d of January he suffered at Philippi, in Macedonia: and of Nicolas, that, either by design or indiscretion, he gave rise to the infamous sect of Nicolaitans, and therefore no Christian church has ever yet paid any honor to his memory.
STEPHEN ARRESTED
The great zeal of Stephen for propagating the gospel, and the success that attended his endeavors, soon awakened the malice of his adversaries, who procured some members[443] of the most learned synagogues, then in Jerusalem, to dispute with him. But when they found their disputants baffled, and unable to withstand the force of those arguments with which the divine wisdom had inspired Stephen, they betook themselves to vile practices. Having procured some profligate men to accuse him of blasphemy, they caused him to be apprehended, and, in a tumultuous manner, took him before the Sanhedrin, in order to obtain a formal sentence against him.
[443] As there were people of all nations, proselytes to the Jewish religion, dwelling at Jerusalem, it is reasonable to imagine, that they had synagogues, or places appointed for prayer, for hearing the law, and pious exhortations in their own languages. The Jews tell us, that there were no less than four hundred and eighty of these in Jerusalem, which were so many inferior churches, and subordinate to the temple, as their cathedral. These synagogues very probably were built, and maintained by the several nations, or degrees of people that resorted to them, and from these they had their names, as the synagogue of Libertines, that is, of such as were denizens of Rome, of the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians, etc. But it is to be observed of these synagogues, that they were not only places of religious worship, but a sort of colleges of schools likewise, where persons were instructed in the law and traditions of the Jews, The Jews at this time were dispersed in several foreign parts, and from these they sent their youth to Jerusalem to be educated in the synagogue, or college, peculiar to their respective countries, St. Paul was of the province of Cilicia, and, as it is reasonable to think that he studied in a college, either belonging to the country where he was born, or proper to his quality, as a freeman of Rome; there seems to be no incongruity to supposing, that he might possibly be one, either of those Libertine or Cilician disputants, who entered the lists with St. Stephen.
STEPHEN'S TRIAL
While Stephen stood before the council, the judges, and all the people then present, beheld a luster and radiance in his countenance, not unlike the appearance of an angel. This, however, did not so far intimidate the Sanhedrin as to prevent them from listening to the accusation of the false-witnesses, who charged him with blasphemy, in foretelling the destruction of the temple, and the change of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies. “This man,” said they; “ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him say, Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
STEPHEN'S ORATION
The high-priest, leaving heard the accusation against Stephen, asked him, whether or not he was guilty of thus prophesying the destruction of the temple, and change of the Jewish religion? In answer to this question, Stephen made a very grave and severe oration, the substance of which was to the following effect:
“Hearken unto me, ye descendants of Jacob; the Almighty, whose glory is from everlasting, appeared to our father Abraham, before he sojourned in Charran, even while he dwelt in Mesopotamia, commanding him to leave his country and relations, and retire into a land which he would show him.
“Abraham obeyed the divine mandate; he left the land of the Chaldeans and pitched his tent in Charran; whence, after his father was dead, he removed into Canaan, even the land you now inhabit; but he gave him no inheritance in this country, not even so much as to set his foot upon. He promised, indeed, he would give it him for a possession, which should descend to his posterity, though at this time he had no child.
“God also indicated to him that his seed should sojourn in a strange land; the people of which should make them bondmen, and treat them cruelly four hundred years. After which, he would judge that nation, bring out his people, who should serve him in this place, as an earnest of which he gave him the covenant of circumcision; and afterward a son, whom Abraham circumcised the eighth day, calling his name Isaac, who beget Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
“But these, moved with envy, sold their brother Joseph into Egypt, where the Almighty protected him, delivered him from all his afflictions, endued him with wisdom, and gave him favor in the sight of Pharaoh, the monarch of Egypt, who made him governor both of his house and. kingdom.
“Soon after this exaltation of Joseph, the countries of Egypt and Canaan were afflicted with a terrible famine, and our fathers found no sustenance, either for themselves or flocks. But as soon as Jacob heard the welcome tidings that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers thither to purchase bread for the people of his household. And in their second journey, thither, Joseph made himself known to his brethren, and also informed Pharaoh of his country and relations. After which Joseph's father, with his whole house, consisting of threescore and fifteen souls, went down into Egypt, where both Jacob and our fathers died, and were carried to Sychem, and deposited in the sepulcher purchased of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sychem.
“But as the time for fulfilling the promise made to Abraham approached, the people multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose, who was not acquainted with the merits of Joseph, and the great things he had done for that country. This prince used our fathers with cruelty, and artfully attempted to destroy all the male children. At this time Moses was born, and being exceeding fair, was nourished three months in his father's house; but as it was dangerous to conceal him there any longer, he was hid among the flags on the bank of the river; when the daughter of Pharaoh found him, and educated him as her own son.
“Thus Moses became acquainted with all the learning of Egypt, and was mighty, both in word and deed; but when he was forty years old he thought proper to visit his brethren, the children of Israel; and seeing an Egyptian smite a Hebrew, he assisted the suffering person, and slew the Egyptian; supposing that his brethren would have been persuaded that from his hand, with the assistance of the Almighty, they might expect deliverance; but they conceived no hopes of this kind.
“The next day he again visited them, and seeing two of them striving together, he endeavored to make them friends: 'Ye are brethren,' said he to them, 'why do ye injure one another?' But he who did his neighbor wrong, instead of listening to his advice, thrust him away, saying, 'By what authority art thou a judge of our actions? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?'
“Moses, at this answer, fled from Egypt, and sojourned in the land of Media, where he begat two sons. And at the end of forty years, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, out of the middle of a bush burning with fire: this was a sight which surprised Moses; and as he drew near to view more attentively so uncommon a thing, God called unto him, saying, 'I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' At which Moses trembled, and turned aside his face. But the Lord said to him, 'Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have long seen the afflictions of my people, which are in Egypt; I have heard their cries, and am now descended from heaven to deliver them. Come, therefore, I will send thee into Egypt.'
“Thus was that Moses whom they refused sent by God to be ruler and deliverer, by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. Accordingly he brought them out after he had showed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, in the Red sea, and in the wilderness, forty years. It is this Moses that told our fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, and your brethren, like unto me. Him shall ye hear.'
“And this prophet is the same who was in the church in the wilderness, with the angel which spake unto Moses in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; the same who received the lively oracles to give unto us; he whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and were desirous of returning to their state of bondage commanding Aaron to make them gods to go before them, and pretending that they knew not what was become of Moses, who delivered them from the slavery of Egypt. They now made a calf, offered sacrifices to it, and rejoiced in the work of their own hands. From these idolatrous proceedings they lost that divine protection which had hitherto attended them as the prophets have recorded. 'O ye houses of Israel! have you offered unto me slain beasts and sacrifices, by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan: figures which ye made to worship them: I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'
“Our fathers were possessed of the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, being made according to the pattern Moses had seen in the mount. This tabernacle our fathers brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles; who were driven out by the Almighty, till the days of David, a favorite of the Most High, and who was desirous of finding a tabernacle for the God of Jacob; but Solomon built him a house.
“We must not, however, think that the Almighty will reside in temples made with hands, as the prophet beautifully observed: 'Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me, saith the Lord, or where is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?'
“Ye stiff-necked, ye uncircumcised in heart and ears, will ye for ever resist the Holy Ghost? Ye tread in the paths of your fathers; as they did, so do you still continue to do. Did not your fathers persecute every one of the prophets? did not they slay them who showed the coming of the Holy One, whom ye yourselves have betrayed and murdered? Ye have received the law by the disposition of angels, but never kept it.”
STEPHEN MARTYRED
This speech, but particularly the conclusive part of it, incensed the council to such a degree against Stephen, that they made use of the most bitter invectives, and resolved to chastise him by no less a punishment than death. But Stephen was totally regardless of, what they said or did, having his mind employed in the delightful prospect of heaven, and the appearance of the blessed Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The visionary prospect of this heavenly scene so enraptured his soul, that he could not help communicating it to the council. “Behold,” said he, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” On saying these words, the resentment of the council against him was so ungovernably increased, that raising a loud clamor, and stopping their ears against all cries for mercy, they immediately dragged him away without the city, and stoned him to death. While Stephen was undergoing this punishment, he first devoutly recommended his soul to God, and then earnestly prayed for his murderers, that the sin they were committing “might not be laid to their charge;” having done which, he quietly resigned his soul into the hands of Him who gave it. His remains were decently interred by devout men (proselytes to the Christian faith) who made great lamentation over him.
SAUL ENLISTS TO PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS
Among the many that were enraged against Stephen, one particular person who had but too great a hand in his death, was a young man of Cilicia, named Saul. This person, out of his great officiousness to have Stephen executed, undertook to look to the clothes of the witnesses, who usually stripped themselves to throw the first stones (as the law directed) at the person who was to suffer by their evidence. Not satisfied with this, Saul, out of his passionate concern for the traditions of the ancients, and his natural inveteracy on that account, against the advocates of the gospel, resolved to persecute all he could who professed the new religion. He accordingly applied to the Sanhedrin for a commission for this purpose, which was no sooner granted than he immediately proceeded to carry it into execution. Having proper assistance, he broke open houses, seized upon all who looked like the disciples of Jesus, and unmercifully dragged them to prison, where he caused them to be scourged and otherwise ignominiously punished. These acts of cruelty he exercised wherever he went; so that most of the believers, except the apostles, were forced to leave Jerusalem, and disperse themselves in the regions of Judea and Samaria, Syria and Phoenicia, Cyrus and Antioch, etc.
In consequence of this, the glad tidings of the gospel (which had till now been confined to Judea, and many professors of it obliged to hide themselves in secret places) was preached to the Gentile world, and an ancient prophecy was fulfilled which says, “Out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Thus did the Almighty bring good out of evil, and cause the malicious intentions of the wicked to redound to his honor and praise.