T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S cession to the death of Stephen. Having once proceeded to such a length, the rage of the people turned upon the whole Christian body,—Camb. Bible. v. 2. Great lamentation. The word expresses the beating on the breast which is one of the outward expressions of great sorrow. It must have needed no little courage at such a time to per form the funeral rites for one who had fallen as Stephen had, by the fury of the whole people.—Lumby. v. 3. As for Saul. See his own af fecting confessions afterward (22:4; 26: 9,10; 1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:6; 1 Tim. 1:13).—Brown. He made havoc. The Saul who made havoc of the church became the Paul who said, "Feed the church of God.” . Remember well the identity of the man if you would under stand fully the import of the doctrine. The moral distance between Saul and Paul is immense, but what of the spirit ual distance between Paul the warrior and Paul the crowned saint? It is the distance between earth and heaven.-— Parker. 26:9. Thought with himself. One may be sincere and yet be the biggest fool on earth. The most inhuman acts have been done under color of religious sincerity. A misinformed conscience is an awful thing. Conscience unenlightened by the Spirit of God, is anything but a safe guide.—Sel. It is possible for those to think they are doing their duty who are wilfully perslating, in the greatest sin.— Henry. m Subject Illustration “The Kite is a bird which delights in the free air, and soars aloft, as if it would fain approach to heaven. All the while, however, it keeps its sharp eye continually directed LESSON to the earth, if hap- ILLUSTRATION ly, it may there spy W. H. Pike some prey to seize. And like it are hyp ocrites; they love to speak of heavenly and spiritual things; they go to church, and take the Holy Supper; they read and pray and sing, but nevertheless, their heart, retains its earthly inclina tion and they seek'that which is tem poral, more than that which is eternal.” —Gotthold.
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portents defeated in argument are seldom merciful.—Whitelaw. • v. 58. Stoned him. An- illegal and tumultuous proceeding, as the Jews at this time had not the power of inflicting capital punishment without thè authority of the Romans (Jn. 18:31). Probably explained, like the murder of James (12: 2 ), by supposing that it took place after the removal of Pilate and before the arrival of his successor.—Hausrath. A young man’s feet. Saul’s first appear ance in history is as an accomplice in murder.—Sei. v. 59. Lord Jesus. In this prayer Stephen commits his soul to our Lord Jesus Christ and he does this in the same manner in which Jesus Christ com mended His soul to God the Father. In doing so he acknowledges Christ as the disposer of the eternal states of man. Stephen asks Christ to forgive sin. Thus he worships Christ as the Preserver and Judge of men. He offers to Christ the same prayers that Christ during His crucifixion had offered to God the Fath er; but Christ’s prayer' to the Father was an act of supreme worship, hence Stephen in his prayer offers supreme worship to Christ. If Jesus Christ be hot God, then Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church, died in the very act of idolatry.—Davies. Receive my spirit. His body fell asleep (v. 60). The spirit went immediately to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23). He did not spend a moment in any purgatory.—Brooks. They stoned Stephen. Stephen’s death seemed a calamity. Time alone could show the wisdom of God’s larger plan, but He makes no mistakes. He showed the world how a Christian should die. Observe also the effect on the church. In all ages persecution has been one of the greatest providential agencies for the spread of the Gospel.—Monday Club Ser mons. v. 60. Lay not to their charge. The followers of Jesus Christ may and should pray for the forgiveness of sins of others than themselves, even for their enemies. Christ commanded them to do so (Matt. 5:44; Lk. 6:28) and exemplified His own command (Lk. 23:34).— Edson. 8:1. Saul was consenting. There was one delighted- spectator of this furious mob—Saul of Tarsus—but he will never forget the sight. Stephen’s bearing and words will prick him like a goad in his .heart (26:14) and he too will become a Christian.—Torrey. A great persecution. The persecution was in immediate suc
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