The face of an angel

Stephen’s wisdom and spirit were irresistible to the people; even the men in the council “…looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”  Isn’t that one of most appealing word-pictures of the Bible?

It seems that Stephen spoke of the Christ as having fulfilled the Law.  Dummelow says, “The reason why the preaching of Stephen gave so much greater offence than that of the Twelve probably was that he saw that the coming of Christ virtually abrogated the Ceremonial Law, and that its abandonment was only a question of time.”

A new thought to me: St. Stephen’s Day is the 26^th December, the day we call Boxing Day and classified as a secular holiday.

I wonder - did every Jew know the history of the Jewish people as well as Stephen in his speech demonstrated that he did?  Or did he have more education than most – like Paul?  The fact that Paul was an eyewitness to Stephen’s stoning could have deep significance.  He heard Stephen’s prayer, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”  Could this blessing be the start of Paul’s conversion?

Acts Chapter 8.  All of the preceding happenings brought about a great persecution of the church, with Paul being one of the chief persecutors. 

However, the good work was carried on.  Here we have Philip preaching Christ in Samaria (the workers having been “scattered abroad”), and healing with what were called miracles.  Evil spirits were cast out, palsies and lameness were healed. 

The story of Simon seems to me to be a sort of fore-runner of the experience of those students of Mary Baker Eddy who went off to start off-shoot sects.  Simon did not deserve to receive the Holy Ghost.  We don’t really get a last word about this Simon, though he seemed to have had repented.

The chapter goes on to talk about Philip and his meeting with the Eunuch of Ethiopia, an important man in that country.  He was a reader of the Scriptures, in this case, the book of Isaiah.  What form did the books of the Bible (Old Testament) take at that time?  He carried these writings with him in his chariot, so they must have been portable.  We admire this man’s quest for an explanation Isaiah’s prophesy of Jesus coming.  The eunuch’s baptism by Philip is said to be the first example of Gentile baptism.

Joyce Voysey