Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1892 — SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. [ARTICLE]

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

Uhoo 1X.— 28. THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYRS ACTS 7:54-60^38:1-4. 3 " StTPT.—S4. When they heard these things they were cut' to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. School.—ss. But he. being full of the Holy Ghost, looked np steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God. and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. 56. And said. Behold, see the heavens opened, and the son of man standing oo the right hand of God. i 57. Then they cried out with a loud* voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. -58.' And cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whoso name was Haul. / "bn "Goff, aud sayibgf^orSylesusl'receive” 1 my spirit. 60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, bo fell asleep. . V .... 1. And Saul was consenting to his death. 0 And at that time there whs a great ffersecut ion against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad ’throughout the regions of Jttdea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. \ 3. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4‘. Therefore they that were scattered „ abroad went everywhere preaching the . word. ' - - —' ■ *

The section of histof-y extends over ohapters 6,7, and 8:1-4, all of which should be read in order to understand rightly this lesson. Time. Somewhero between the autumn of a. d. 36 and the summer of a. d. 37. Probably May, a. d. 37, about Pentecost. Place.— Jerusalem. The trial was in the hall of the Sanhedrim, in the temple area. The martyrdom was in the valley of Jehost|jhat, betvfgen the city and the Mount^oLQlLves^—=— J Rplekß. —lt was a time of general commotion. Pilate was removed from , being governor, and no one was appointed in his place. Tho Emperor Tiberius died March 16, a. d. 37. Circumstances. —In our last lesson we left Stephen arraigned the grejit council of blasphemy. He r defended himself in a powerful speech (Acts 7:2-53), at the close, of which our lesson for to-day begins. Helps over hard places.— s 4. Cut to the heart: the original means sawed asunder. They were intensely enraged. 55.,, Saw the glory of God: in his own future home, and God’s goodness amid%ll the evil around him. Jesus standing: not - sitting, as usually represented, but standing as if rising to help, defend, and welcome Stephen. 56. Behold, I see, etc.: this is exactly what Jesus/had foretold to this same Sanhedrim a few years before. 57. Stopped their ears: as if unwilling to hear such things. 58. Cast\liim • out of the city: they were forbidden to have executions within the city. The place was the valley of Jehosbaphat, close under the temple walls, at the foot of the Mount of Olives. - (Acts 6, 11, 13,) "They were obliged to cast the first stone; (Deut. 17: 6, 7.) Young man’s.... Saul: afterwards Paul the apostle. He was probably thirty-fom' Or thrrty-five years old at this time. 59. Calling upon God: “God” is in Italics, showing that it is not in the original. He called upon the Lord Jesus. Haul was consenting: by his vote, and by aiding the execution. Except the apostles: why did these*- remain? “Because of their greater steadfastness." They were the leaders, the organizers ;of the Church; theip place, the headquarters, of all deciples. It was not fitting that they should flee. Their steadfastness would strengthen the believers everywhere. Their fleeing would almost break up the Church. They must remain at every cost. Put (3) it is probable that they were permitted by the authorities to remain because they had not yet proclaimed the truth that the Stephen, emphasized, as to the passing away of the “customs of Moses.” 2. _ Devout men: Jews, not Christians, who thus protested against the murderT HalingT i. e, hliultngTirag- ~ ging fourth. Subjects for further study and special reports. —The difficulty about distributing funds, —How it was settled.—How this aided the church.— Stephen.—The charges against him. —His address in reply.—Stephen’s vision.—Method of stoning. Stephen’s martyrdom.—Martyrs.—The effect of the persecution.