International S. S. Lessons Exposition and Practical Application By R. A. Torrey Outlines and Suggestive Points By T. C. Horton
The Death of Stephen MARCH S, 1916. LESSON X. Acts 7 :S4-8:3. (Study all Chapter 7. Commit vs. 59, 60). G olden T e x t : “Be thou faithful unto^ death, and I will give thee a crown o f life.” —Rev. 2:10. '-------- - DA ILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., Feb. 28—Acts 7:54-8:3. (The Lesson).
Tues., Feb. 29—Heb. 10:32-39. Wed., Mar. 1—Eph. 3 :14-21. Thurs., Mar. 2—Matt. 5 :43-48. Fri., Mar. 3—Luke 23:27-35. Sat., Mar. 4—Luke 23:36-46. Sun., Mar. 5—2 Cor. 4:6-18.
EXPOSIT ION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
led to repentance, but in the case o f Ste phen’s preaching in this case the conviction o f sin resisted by his hearers led to his murder. But Stephen will have no 3less reward than Peter, though the outcome o f the sermons in the two cases was so utterly different. But even Stephen’s sermon was not without fruit. His sermon coupled with his conduct and his prayer led ultimately to the- conversion o f Saul o f Tarsus, and thus gave the Apostle Paul to the church. Possibly as much was accomplished in the ultimate outcome by the conversion o f this one man as was accomplished by the con version o f the 3000 on the Day o f Pente cost, but Stephen did pot live to see it. The faithful worker may learn from this incident not to be discouraged even though his preaching seems to drive men mad instead o f leading them to repentance. In the ultimate outcome some o f those who now gnash upon him with their teeth may accept the Saviour whom he proclaims. vs. 55, 56. “But he, being full o f the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory o f God, and Jesus stand ing on the right hand o f God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son o f Man standing on the right hand o f God." As the wild mob surged about
v. 54. “Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth." The address o f Stephen as given in the preced ing verses was strong and unanswerable. It laid bare the heart o f Israel in all ages and the heart o f Stephen’s immediate hear ers. It was a wonderful Bible exposition given in the power o f the Holy Spirit. It showed hoW the people o f Israel in all gen erations had been “ stiff necked and uncir cumcised in heart and ear,” and how they had always resisted the Holy Ghost. Ste phen’s object was to show them how their treatment o f Christ was simply the legiti mate outcome o f the way in which their fathers had treated God’s prophets in all ages, that just as their fathers had killed those who before hand had declared the coming o f the Righteous One, so they had done with the Righteous One Himself when He came. This exposition o f the W ord o f God had produced a profound conviction o f sin (cf. ch. 2 :37), but conviction o f sin is not conversion, though oftentimes it leads to conversion. When men are con victed o f sin they do one o f two things, they either repent or they get mad at the preacher. In the case o f Peter’s preach ing on the Day o f Pentecost conviction had
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