Martyr had made a deeper impression than he was conscious of at the time. Probably it is to him that we owe the preservation of S. Stephen's great speech; and his own discourse at Antioch (ch. xiii.) bears a striking resemblance to the defence of the first Martyr.

(Many commentators have represented the execution of S. Stephen as a tumultuary outbreak in defiance of Roman law. But many passages of Holy Scripture seem to imply that the Sanhedrim had the power of inflicting death (S. John v. 18; vii. 32, 51; viii. 5, 7, 59; xi. 53; xii. 10; Acts xxiv. 6; xxvi. 10). The reply of the Jews to Pilate (S. John xviii. 31), on which the opposite view is based, simply means, according to S. Augustine and S. Chrysostom, that it was not lawful for the Jews to put any one to death during the Feast of the Passover.)

3. The Master's Footsteps.

The incidents of the Trial and Death of S. Stephen closely resemble those of the great King of Martyrs. He was disliked and attacked, probably on account of his miracles and growing popularity (Comp. Acts vi. 8-10 with S. Matt. xii. 22-24; xxi. 14, 23; S. John xi. 47; xii. 37). When his enemies were foiled in argument, false witnesses were hired to accuse him of blasphemy (Comp. Acts vi. 10-14 with S. Matt. xxii. 15, 46; xxvi. 59, 65). He was unjustly condemned and shamefully treated by his judges (Comp. Acts vii. 54, 57 with S. Matt. xxvi. 66–68).

Like his Master, S. Stephen's farewell words were those of faithful rebuke (Comp. Acts vii. 51-53 with S. Matt. xxiii.). Like Him he commended his spirit to the Lord, and

Like Him with pardon on his tongue,

In midst of mortal pain,

He prayed for them that did the wrong

Who follows in his train?

(Comp. Acts vii. 60 with S. Luke xxiii. 46, 34),

Lessons to be drawn from the Narrative:

1. To try to go through our daily life with the vision of JESUS in His glory ever before us; watching over us, strengthening us against temptation, helping us in trouble, showing us the glory that awaits us if we are faithful unto death.

2. S. Stephen was 'full of the Holy Ghost.' It is only in the power of the Holy Ghost that we can see this vision. We must therefore be obedient to His inspirations, and continually seek His help.

3. S. Stephen looked away from his tormentors, he 'looked up steadfastly into Heaven,' and we too must do our part, turning away from earthly cares, pleasures, and sins, and setting our affections steadfastly on heavenly things.

4. To bear suffering and trial with courage and patience, remembering that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, and that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (Rom. viii. 18; 2 Cor. iv. 17).

5. Like S. Stephen, we must pray for, and forgive all who injure us.

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here on earth, we may steadfastly look up to Heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed, after the example of Thy first martyr, S. Stephen, praying to Thee, O Blessed JESUS, who standest at the right hand of God, to succour all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

LESSON XIII.

Sowing the Seed.

Read Acts viii. 1-8. Learn Ps. cxvi. 15; cxxvi. 5, 6; Is. lix. 19.

1. The Burial of S. Stephen (v. 2).

How the Christian community must have grieved over the loss of S. Stephen, for he was one of their best and greatest teachers, but they little guessed what abundant fruit his glorious martyrdom would gain for the Church.

GOD's ways are not as our ways. His work is not hindered when those who seem most needed are suddenly called away, to engage in yet higher, holier ministries within the veil. Devout men carry the crushed body of the martyr to the grave with loving reverence, and make great lamentation over him, an act of Christian courage which must have exposed them to much danger, for it was not lawful among the Jews to make outward demonstrations of grief for persons condemned by the Sanhedrim.

2. Persecution (vv. 1, 3, 4).

Very bitter was the persecution which now broke out against the Christians, so that in obedience to their Master's command, 'when they persecute you in this city flee ye into another' (S. Matt. x. 23), the Christians at Jerusalem were scattered abroad throughout Judea and Samaria; except the Apostles, who had probably received a special charge to remain at Jerusalem.

Foremost among the persecutors was Saul of Tarsus, who, in his zeal for the Law, had scoffed at S. Stephen's speech,

in

and taken an active part in his murder. The name of the cruel young Pharisee was known and feared, far and wide, every Christian household (ch. ix. 13). And no wonder ! for 'he made havoc of the Church' (v. 3), and, backed by the authority of the Sanhedrim, broke into many a Christian household, and, dragging forth men and women, had them bound and cast into prison, or compelled them to enter the synagogues, and there tried to force them to blaspheme or curse the name of Christ. When they refused to deny their LORD, he became exceedingly mad against them, persecuting them even unto strange cities,' giving his vote against them when tried for their life (ch. ix. 2; xxii. 4, 19; xxvi. 10, 11), and all this, he tells us, because, ‘I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of JESUS of Nazareth' (ch. xxvi. 9).

How vividly these sins were remembered, even to his dying day, we find in his Epistle to S. Timothy, where Paul the aged Saint confesses that he was once 'a blasphemer, and a persecutor,' but that he had obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief, and that in him JESUSs Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, to the end that none might despair of obtaining that grace which had been so freely accorded to himself, the chief of sinners (1 Tim i. 13-16). Oh, wonderful constraining power of the grace of God, which could turn Saul the Persecutor, into Paul the Apostle, in answer to the dying Martyr's prayer!

3. The seed sown (vv. 5-8).

It has been said 'the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.' Never does the Church so thrive, never do her purity, faith, and love shine so brightly as in seasons of persecution. It is in prosperity, not adversity, that her love waxes cold, and indifference, unbelief and corruption undermine her faith.

The Churches of Sardis and Laodicea appear to have been free from the persecutions and trials which beset the other five Churches, and to all appearance were rich and

prosperous; while to the great head of the Church, Sardis was all but dead, and Laodicea was 'wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Rev. iii. 1, 17).

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints. The blood of the Martyr Stephen, with that of those who, animated by a like constancy and courage, joyfully laid down their lives rather than deny their LORD, cried aloud to GOD, and drew down showers of blessings upon the infant Church.

The names of those who, during this persecution, were slain for the word of GOD, and for the testimony which they held' (Rev. vi. 9), though unrecorded in the Church's calendar, are registered in GoD's eternal book of remembrance, and their reward is with the Most High.

Into all countries whither they were driven, the scattered disciples carried the precious seed, which, sown in tears, (Ps. cxxvi. 6) was soon to bring forth an abundant harvest.

Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven Deacons, and therefore in special danger at Jerusalem, was sent to Samaria, and there, perhaps at Sychar, where Christ had sat weary on the well, and had foretold the gathering in of the spiritual harvest among that despised nation (S. John iv. 35) 'he preached CHRIST unto them'; told them that He who once had tarried two days in their midst was now exalted at the right hand of GoD, ready to forgive their sins, and to pour forth upon them also the gifts of His holy Spirit.

With one accord the people listened to his preaching, and when they saw the wonderful miracles he wrought (v. 7), as signs that his message was indeed from GOD, they accepted the tidings with 'great joy,' and multitudes of Gentile converts were admitted by Holy Baptism into the fold of CHRIST.

(The expression 'preaching the word' (v. 4) does not mean the Old Testament Scriptures, but the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word made Flesh, the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of CHRIST.)