Then said the high priest to him, Are these things so? Thereupon, this godfearing man explained himself and answered with many reasons; he, moreover, adduced, as if with a heavenly tongue, and with incontrovertible reasons, many scriptures of the Old Testament, to show that Christ is the true Messiah, and that the Gospel is true. Acts 7:1–53.
But when he began to speak with great warmth, and to set before the eyes of his accusers their blood-thirstiness, their wrath was kindled the more against him, for these things cut them to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Verse 54.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Verses 55 and 56.
But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. Verses 57 and 58.
In the meantime he called and said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Verses 59 and 60.
Such was the end of this upright man Stephen, to whom the honor of Jesus Christ was dearer than his own life. It is stated to have taken place in the year thirty-four after the birth of Christ, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, which was the thirty-eighth year of his age. It happened in the seventh year after the baptism of Christ. _Nic. lib. 2. cap. 3._
This having occurred, some godfearing men attended to the body, and carried it to the grave, greatly lamenting this pious martyr.--The stones were to him as rivers of sweetness. _August. cap. 22. Solil._
JAMES, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE, PUT TO DEATH WITH THE SWORD, BY HEROD AGRIPPA, IN JERUSALEM, A. D. 45.
[Illustration: BEHEADING OF JAMES, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE.]
James, surnamed the Greater, was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and a fisherman by occupation; but, Christ having called him to be his disciple, he abandoned fishing, and followed Christ. Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19.
He was instructed for a considerable time together with the other disciples in the duties of the apostleship, until he was properly sent out in that capacity. Matt. 10:2; Mark 6:17; Luke 6:13.
He was endowed with the gift of working signs and miracles, and on account of this special gift he was one of the three surnamed _Boanerges_, that is, _sons of thunder_. He was with Jesus on every remarkable occasion; so much so, that he was chosen by the Lord to behold his glory upon the holy mount; and, afterwards, to witness his sufferings in the garden of Gethsemane. Mark 3:17,18; Matt. 17:1; 26:36.
Of him Christ had predicted, that he should drink of the same cup, of which he (Christ) would drink, and that he should be baptized with the same baptism, with which he was baptized; that is, that he should be subject to his (Christ’s) suffering and death. Matt. 20:22,23.
After the death of Christ he joined the other apostles, to be a witness with them, of his suffering, death, and resurrection, and to be instructed concerning his kingdom during the forty days after his resurrection.
After Christ’s ascension he also remained at Jerusalem; and when he, together with the other apostles, had there received the Holy Ghost, he preached the Gospel in Judea and Samaria. Acts 1:13,14.