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THE STORY OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR
In the New Testament, in the book of Acts, you will learn how the
members of the church in Jerusalem gave their money freely to help the
poor. This free giving led to trouble, as the church grew so fast; for
some of the widows who were poor were passed by, and their friends made
complaints to the apostles. The twelve apostles called the whole church
together, and said:
"It is not well that we should turn aside from preaching and teaching
the word of God to sit at tables and give out money. But, brethren,
choose from among yourselves seven good men; men who have the Spirit of
God and are wise, and we will give this work to them; so that we can
spend our time in prayer and in preaching the gospel."
This plan was pleasing to all the church, and they chose seven men to
take charge of the gifts of the people, and to see that they were sent
to those who were in need. The first man chosen was Stephen, a man full
of faith and of the Spirit of God; and with him was Philip and five
other good men. These seven men they brought before the apostles; and
the apostles laid their hands on their heads, setting them apart for
their work of caring for the poor.
But Stephen did more than to look after the needy ones. He began to
preach the gospel of Christ, and to preach with such power as made every
one who heard him feel the truth. Stephen saw before any other man in
the church saw, that the gospel of Christ was not for Jews only, but was
for all men; that all men might be saved if they would believe in Jesus;
and this great truth Stephen began to preach with all his power. Such
preaching as this, that men who were not Jews might be saved by
believing in Christ, made many of the Jews very angry. They called all
the people who were not Jews "Gentiles," and they looked upon them with
hate and scorn; but they could not answer the words that Stephen spoke.
They roused up the people and the rulers, and set them against Stephen,
and at last they seized Stephen, and brought him before the great
council of the rulers. They said to the rulers:
"This man is always speaking evil words against the Temple and against
the law of Moses. We have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth shall
destroy this place, and shall change the laws that Moses gave to us!"
This was partly true and partly false; but no lie is so harmful as that
which has a little truth with it. Then the high-priest said to Stephen:
"Are these things so?"
And as Stephen stood up to answer the high-priest, all fixed their eyes
upon him; and they saw that his face was shining, as though it was the
face of an angel. Then Stephen began to speak of the great things that
God had done for his people Israel in the past; how he had called
Abraham, their father, to go forth into a new land; how he had given
them great men, as Joseph, and Moses, and the prophets. He showed them
how the Israelites had not been faithful to God, who had given them such
wonderful blessings.
Then Stephen said:
"You are a people with hard hearts and stiff necks, who will not obey
the words of God and his Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do, also.
Your fathers killed the prophets whom God sent to them; and you have
slain Jesus, the Righteous One!"
As they heard these things, they became so angry against Stephen, that
they gnashed on him with their teeth, like wild beasts. But Stephen,
full of the Holy Spirit, looked up toward heaven with his shining face;
and he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on God's right hand, and
he said:
"I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right
hand of God!"
But they cried out with angry voices, and rushed upon him, and dragged
him out of the council-room, and outside the wall of the city. And there
they threw stones upon him to kill him, while Stephen was kneeling down
among the falling stones, and praying:
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! Lord, lay not this sin up against them!"
And when he had said this, he fell asleep in death, the first to be
slain for the gospel of Christ.
Next
page |
THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE
THE STORY OF NOAH AND THE ARK
THE STORY OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC
THE STORY OF JACOB
THE SALE OF A BIRTHRIGHT
THE STORY OF THE LADDER THAT REACHED TO HEAVEN
THE STORY OF JOSEPH
THE COAT OF MANY COLORS
THE DREAMS OF A KING
THE STORY OF THE MONEY IN THE SACKS
THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST BROTHER
THE STORY OF MOSES, THE CHILD WHO WAS FOUND IN THE RIVER
THE STORY OF THE GRAPES FROM CANAAN
THE STORY OF GIDEON AND HIS THREE HUNDRED SOLDIERS
THE STORY OF SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN
THE STORY OF RUTH, THE GLEANER
THE STORY OF DAVID
THE SHEPHERD BOY
THE STORY OF THE FIGHT WITH THE GIANT
THE STORY OF THE CAVE OF ADULLAM
THE STORY OF SOLOMON AND HIS TEMPLE
THE STORY OF ELIJAH, THE PROPHET
THE STORY OF JONAH AND THE WHALE
THE STORY OF THE FIERY FURNACE
THE STORY OF DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN
THE STORY OF THE ANGEL BY THE ALTAR
THE STORY OF JESUS
THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM
THE STORY OF THE STAR AND THE WISE MEN
THE STORY OF THE CHILD IN THE TEMPLE
THE STORY OF THE WATER THAT WAS TURNED INTO WINE
THE STORY OF THE STRANGER AT THE WELL
THE STORY OF THE FISHERMEN
THE STORY OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
THE STORY OF THE MIRACLE WORKER
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THE STORY OF THE PALM BRANCHES
THE STORY OF THE BETRAYAL
THE STORY OF THE EMPTY TOMB
THE STORY OF THE MAN AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE
THE STORY OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR
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