he appointment of deacons. (1-7) Stephen falsely accused of
blasphemy. (8-15)
Verses 1-7: Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often
had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied,
they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all
the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons
chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be
filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to
rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating
covetousness. All who are employed in the service of the church,
ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the
church. They blessed them in the name of the Lord. The word and
grace of God are greatly magnified, when those are wrought upon
by it, who were least likely.
Verses 8-15: When they could not answer Stephen's arguments as a
disputant, they prosecuted him as a criminal, and brought false
witnesses against him. And it is next to a miracle of
providence, that no greater number of religious persons have
been murdered in the world, by the way of perjury and pretence
of law, when so many thousands hate them, who make no conscience
of false oaths. Wisdom and holiness make a man's face to shine,
yet will not secure men from being treated badly. What shall we
say of man, a rational being, yet attempting to uphold a
religious system by false witness and murder! And this has been
done in numberless instances. But the blame rests not so much
upon the understanding, as upon the heart of a fallen creature,
which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Yet
the servant of the Lord, possessing a clear conscience, cheerful
hope, and Divine consolations, may smile in the midst of danger
and death.
he appointment of deacons. (1-7) Stephen falsely accused of
blasphemy. (8-15)