The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 253

martyrs provides abUDdant illustration of the varied ways in which Christ has com- forted his witnesses. Stephen was comforted by the vision in three ways. 1. It assured him that what he had testified was true. Christ was living and exalted. 2, It declared that he was not suffering alone. The Christ was in fullest sympathy with him. 8. And it encouraged him to full trust in all his Lord's promises of strength and grace for the enduring and final triumph over his foes. The vision seemed to say, " When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." II. A 00!\'FIRMATION OF THE CHRISTIAN TRUTH. .At different times different parts of the Christian truth have been the citadel or the redan round which the chief fighting has raged, and on which the issue of battle has depended. In the early Church the conflict was mainly over the question of our Lord's resurrection from the dead. Two things were seen to depend on this resurrection. 1. Our Lord's claim to Messiahship. 2. 'l'be spiritual character of our Lord's mission. If risen and exalted, his kingly authorities are declared to be no coarse earthly dominion; he is King of souls, Deliverer of sinners, the living One who saves. III. A WITNESS AGAINST STEPHEN'S PERSECUTORS. And that the witness was effective is shown in its increasing their rage, A dying testimony that was more effective than anything he had spoken in life. But the hated name, spoken of as being at God's right hand in the glory, "let loose the tide of rage which awe had for a moment frozen, and with illegal tumult, councillors and bystanders, turned through sheer passion into a mob, swept him from the chamber with a rush, and hurried him for execution beyond the northern city gate." The times have bronght round again the most serious conflict over the truth of the Resurrection. Show the importance of Stephen's life-testimony to this fact, especially as being given when men would have refuted it if they could, and could if it had not been true. Show how the dying testimony sealed the witness of Stephen's life.-R. T. Ver. 58.-0ur introduction to the greatest of apostles. It is only casually mentioned that" the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul," and yet how much is declared in tbe brief sentence I It is our first sight of the zealous young Pharisee from Tarsus. It is at once an indication of his character and spirit. We see the impulsiveness that has taken up so violent an opposition to the Nazarene impostor and all his followers. If Saul cannot be allowed to throw the actual stones, seeing he was not one of the witnesses, he will do the next thing-he will hold the clothes of the men who have stripped themselves in order to do more efficiently their deadly work. It was the occasion on which Saul gained an impression which he never afterwards lost, and which resulted in what would surprise no one so much as it did himself, in leading him to take up and carry on that very witness and work for which the heroic Stephen died. The age of Saul at this time cannot be certainly known. We may assume that he was UDder thirty years old. Three points may receive consideration in the picture that our text presents to us. L SA.UL SHA.B.ING BY HIB PRESENCE. He "was consenting UDto Stephen's death." "He gave his voice against him." He watched over the clothes. He regarded the scene with satisfaction. .A delusion sometimes possesses men that they cannot be guilty of a crime unless they took actual part in it. Saul had nobler moral sentiments. 'Jhe approver is as guilty as the actor; for he also would have done the thing had opportunity served. But how searching and how serious becomes tbe consideration that, before God, we may be judged guilty on the ground of our approval and consent I With what limitations and qualifications mu.st this point be pressed? St. Paul does not hesitate to take on himself the guilt of Stephen's death, though he never lifted a stone. IL SA UL A vomn.o SHABmG m THE EXECUTION. This may be explained on one or other of the following grounds :-1. The law of the execution, which required the witnesses against tLe vfotiru to effect and complete the death. 2. The position S~ul occupied a1 one of the judges. He gave his vote, and it is never regarded as becommg in a judge to execute his own sentence. Whether Saul was a member of the actual Sanhedrim, or of some committee appointed to deal with these followers of Jesus of Nazareth, does not app~ar. 3. Aristocratic sentiments might keep Saul from actually engaging in the stoning. Nothing could free Saul from his share of the guilt of Stephen's death.  THE AOTB OF THE APOSTLES. 249