the first martyr. He is always put at the head of the seven
deacons; and it is believed he had studied at the feet of Gamaliel. As
he was full of the Holy Ghost, and of zeal, Acts vi, 5, 6, &c, he
performed many wonderful miracles: and those of the synagogue of the
Libertines, of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and others, disputing
with him, could not withstand the wisdom and the power with which he
spoke. Then having suborned false witnesses, to testify that they had
heard him blaspheme against Moses, and against God, they drew him before
the sanhedrim. Stephen appeared in the midst of this assembly, with a
countenance like that of an angel; and the high priest asking him what
he had to answer, in his defence he rapidly traced the history of the
Jews, showing that they had always opposed themselves to God and his
prophets; faithfully upbraided them with the hardness of their hearts,
with their putting the prophets to death, and, lastly, with slaying
Christ himself. At these words they were filled with rage, and gnashed
their teeth against him. But Stephen, lifting up his eyes to heaven,
calmly exclaimed, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing
at the right hand of God.” Then the Jews cried out, and stopped their
ears as though they had heard blasphemy, and falling on him, they drew
him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their
clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul, afterward St. Paul, who
then appears to have commenced his career of persecution. “And they
stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit; and 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,” an
example of the majesty and meekness of true Christian heroism, and as
the first, so also the pattern, of all subsequent martyrs. His Christian
brethren forsook not the remains of this holy man; but took care to bury
him, and accompanied his funeral with great mourning, Acts viii, 2.
deacons; and it is believed he had studied at the feet of Gamaliel. As
he was full of the Holy Ghost, and of zeal, Acts vi, 5, 6, &c, he
performed many wonderful miracles: and those of the synagogue of the
Libertines, of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and others, disputing
with him, could not withstand the wisdom and the power with which he
spoke. Then having suborned false witnesses, to testify that they had
heard him blaspheme against Moses, and against God, they drew him before
the sanhedrim. Stephen appeared in the midst of this assembly, with a
countenance like that of an angel; and the high priest asking him what
he had to answer, in his defence he rapidly traced the history of the
Jews, showing that they had always opposed themselves to God and his
prophets; faithfully upbraided them with the hardness of their hearts,
with their putting the prophets to death, and, lastly, with slaying
Christ himself. At these words they were filled with rage, and gnashed
their teeth against him. But Stephen, lifting up his eyes to heaven,
calmly exclaimed, “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing
at the right hand of God.” Then the Jews cried out, and stopped their
ears as though they had heard blasphemy, and falling on him, they drew
him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their
clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul, afterward St. Paul, who
then appears to have commenced his career of persecution. “And they
stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit; and 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,” an
example of the majesty and meekness of true Christian heroism, and as
the first, so also the pattern, of all subsequent martyrs. His Christian
brethren forsook not the remains of this holy man; but took care to bury
him, and accompanied his funeral with great mourning, Acts viii, 2.