the acts of the apostles-第13章

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in　the　conflict　they　were　compelled　to　wage　unceasingly　against　the　powers
of　darkness。　As　they　should　continue　to　labor　unitedly；　heavenly　messengers
would　go　before　them；　opening　the　way；　hearts　would　be　prepared　for　the
reception　of　truth；　and　many　would　be　won　to　Christ。　So　long　as　they
remained　united；　the　church　would　go　forth　〃fair　as　the　moon；　clear　as　the
sun；　and　terrible　as　an　army　with　banners。〃　Song　of　Solomon　6：10。　Nothing
could　withstand　her　onward　progress。　The　church　would　advance　from　victory
to　victory；　gloriously　fulfilling　her　divine　mission　of　proclaiming　the
gospel　to　the　world。

The　organization　of　the　church　at　Jerusalem　was　to　serve　as　a　model　for　the
organization　of　churches　in　every　other　place　where　messengers　of　truth
should　win　converts　to　the　gospel。　Those　to　whom　was　given　the
responsibility　of　the　general　oversight　of　the　church　were　not　to　lord　it
over　God's　heritage；　but；　as　wise　shepherds；　were　to　〃feed　the　flock　of
God；。　。　。　being　ensamples　to　the　flock〃　（1　Peter　5：2；　3）；　and　the　deacons
were　to　be　〃men　of　honest　report；　full　of　the　Holy　Ghost　and　wisdom。〃　These
men　were　to　take　their　position　unitedly　on　the　side　of　right　and　to
maintain　it　with　firmness　and　decision。　Thus　they　would　have　a　uniting
influence　upon　the　entire　flock。

Later　in　the　history　of　the　early　church；　when　in　various　parts　of　the　world
many　groups　of　believers　had　been　formed　into　churches；　the　organization　of
the　church　was　further

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perfected；　so　that　order　and　harmonious　action　might　be　maintained。　Every
member　was　exhorted　to　act　well　his　part。　Each　was　to　make　a　wise　use　of　the
talents　entrusted　to　him。　Some　were　endowed　by　the　Holy　Spirit　with　special
gifts　〃first　apostles；　secondarily　prophets；　thirdly　teachers；　after　that
miracles；　then　gifts　of　healings；　helps；　governments；　diversities　of
tongues。〃　1　Corinthians　12：28。　But　all　these　classes　of　workers　were　to
labor　in　harmony。

〃There　are　diversities　of　gifts；　but　the　same　Spirit。　And　there　are
differences　of　administrations；　but　the　same　Lord。　And　there　are　diversities
of　operations；　but　it　is　the　same　God　which　worketh　all　in　all。　But　the
manifestation　of　the　Spirit　is　given　to　every　man　to　profit　withal。　For　to
one　is　given　by　the　Spirit　the　word　of　wisdom；　to　another　the　word　of
knowledge　by　the　same　Spirit；　to　another　faith　by　the　same　Spirit；　to
another　the　gifts　of　healing　by　the　same　Spirit；　to　another　the　working　of
miracles；　to　another　prophecy；　to　another　discerning　of　spirits；　to　another
divers　kinds　of　tongues；　to　another　the　interpretation　of　tongues：　but　all
these　worketh　that　one　and　the　selfsame　Spirit；　dividing　to　every　man
severally　as　He　will。　For　as　the　body　is　one；　and　hath　many　members；　and　all
the　members　of　that　one　body；　being　many；　are　one　body：　so　also　is　Christ。〃
1　Corinthians　12：4…12。

Solemn　are　the　responsibilities　resting　upon　those　who　are　called　to　act　as
leaders　in　the　church　of　God　on　earth。　In　the　days　of　the　theocracy；　when
Moses　was　endeavoring　to　carry　alone　burdens　so　heavy　that　he　would　soon
have

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worn　away　under　them；　he　was　counseled　by　Jethro　to　plan　for　a　wise
distribution　of　responsibilities。　〃Be　thou　for　the　people　to　Godward；〃
Jethro　advised；　〃that　thou　mayest　bring　the　causes　unto　God：　and　thou　shalt
teach　them　ordinances　and　laws；　and　shalt　show　them　the　way　wherein　they
must　walk；　and　the　work　that　they　must　do。〃　Jethro　further　advised　that　men
be　appointed　to　act　as　〃rulers　of　thousands；　and　rulers　of　hundreds；　rulers
of　fifties；　and　rulers　of　tens。〃　These　were　to　be　〃able　men；　such　as　fear
God；　men　of　truth；　hating　covetousness。〃　They　were　to　〃judge　the　people　at
all　seasons；〃　thus　relieving　Moses　of　the　wearing　responsibility　of　giving
consideration　to　many　minor　matters　that　could　be　dealt　with　wisely　by
consecrated　helpers。

The　time　and　strength　of　those　who　in　the　providence　of　God　have　been　placed
in　leading　positions　of　responsibility　in　the　church；　should　be　spent　in
dealing　with　the　weightier　matters　demanding　special　wisdom　and　largeness　of
heart。　It　is　not　in　the　order　of　God　that　such　men　should　be　appealed　to　for
the　adjustment　of　minor　matters　that　others　are　well　qualified　to　handle。
〃Every　great　matter　they　shall　bring　unto　thee；〃　Jethro　proposed　to　Moses；
〃but　every　small　matter　they　shall　judge：　so　shall　it　be　easier　for　thyself；
and　they　shall　bear　the　burden　with　thee。　If　thou　shalt　do　this　thing；　and
God　command　thee　so；　then　thou　shalt　be　able　to　endure；　and　all　this　people
shall　also　go　to　their　place　in　peace。〃

In　harmony　with　this　plan；　〃Moses　chose　able　men　out　of　all　Israel；　and　made
them　heads　over　the　people；　rulers　of　thousands；　rulers　of　hundreds；　rulers
of　fifties；　and　rulers

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of　tens。　And　they　judged　the　people　at　all　seasons：　the　hard　causes　they
brought　unto　Moses；　but　every　small　matter　they　judged　themselves。〃　Exodus
18：19…26。

Later；　when　choosing　seventy　elders　to　share　with　him　the　responsibilities
of　leadership；　Moses　was　careful　to　select；　as　his　helpers；　men　possessing
dignity；　sound　judgment；　and　experience。　In　his　charge　to　these　elders　at
the　time　of　their　ordination；　he　outlined　some　of　the　qualifications　that
fit　a　man　to　be　a　wise　ruler　in　the　church。　〃Hear　the　causes　between　your
brethren；〃　said　Moses；　〃and　judge　righteously　between　every　man　and　his
brother；　and　the　stranger　that　is　with　him。　Ye　shall　not　respect　persons　in
judgment；　but　ye　shall　hear　the　small　as　well　as　the　great；　ye　shall　not　be
afraid　of　the　face　of　man；　for　the　judgment　is　God's。〃　Deuteronomy　1：16；　17。

King　David；　toward　the　close　of　his　reign；　delivered　a　solemn　charge　to
those　bearing　the　burden　of　the　work　of　God　in　his　day。　Summoning　to
Jerusalem　〃all　the　princes　of　Israel；　the　princes　of　the　tribes；　and　the
captains　of　the　companies　that　ministered　to　the　king　by　course；　and　the
captains　over　the　thousands；　and　captains　over　the　hundreds；　and　the
stewards　over　all　the　substance　and　possession　of　the　king；　and　of　his　sons；
with　the　officers；　and　with　the　mighty　men；　and　with　all　the　valiant　men；〃
the　aged　king　solemnly　charged　them；　〃in　the　sight　of　all　Israel　the
congregation　of　the　Lord；　and　in　the　audience　of　our　God；〃　to　〃keep　and　seek
for　all　the　commandments　of　the　Lord　your　God。〃　I　Chronicles　28：1；　8。

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To　Solomon；　as　one　called　to　occupy　a　position　of　leading　responsibility；
David　gave　a　special　charge：　〃Thou；　Solomon　my　son；　know　thou　the　God　of　thy
father；　and　serve　Him　with　a　perfect　heart　and　with　a　willing　mind：　for　the
Lord　searcheth　all　hearts；　and　understandeth　all　the　imaginations　of　the
thoughts：　if　thou　seek　Him；　He　will　be　found　of　thee；　but　if　thou　forsake
Him；　He　will　cast　thee　off　forever。　Take　heed　now；　for　the　Lord　hath　chosen
thee：　。　。　。　be　strong。〃　I　Chronicles　28：9；　10。

The　same　principles　of　piety　and　justice　that　were　to　guide　the　rulers　among
God's　people　in　the　time　of　Moses　and　of　David；　were　also　to　be　followed　by
those　given　the　oversight　of　the　newly　organized　church　of　God　in　the　gospel
dispensation。　In　the　work　of　setting　things　in　order　in　all　the　churches；
and　ordaining　suitable　men　to　act　as　officers；　the　apostles　held　to　the　high
standards　of　leadership　outlined　in　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures。　They
maintained　that　he　who　is　called　to　stand　in　a　position　of　leading
responsibility　in　the　church　〃must　be　blameless；　as　the　steward　of　God；　not
self…willed；　not　soon　angry；　not　given　to　wine；　no　striker；　not　given　to
filthy　lucre；　but　a　lover　of　hospitality；　a　lover　of　good　men；　sober；　just；
holy；　temperate；　holding　fast　the　faithful　word　as　he　hath　been　taught；　that
he　may　be　able　by　sound　doctrine　both　to　exhort　and　to　convince　the
gainsayers。〃　Titus　1：7…9。

The　order　that　was　maintained　in　the　early　Christian　church　made　it　possible
for　them　to　move　forward　solidly　as　a　well…disciplined　army　clad　with　the
armor　of　God。　The

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companies　of　believers；　though　scattered　over　a　large　territory；　were　all
members　of　one　body；　all　moved　in　concert　and　in　harmony　with　one　another。
When　dissension　arose　in　a　local　church；　as　later　it　did　arise　in　Antioch
and　elsewhere；　and　the　believers　were　unable　to　come　to　an　agreement　among
themselves；　such　matters　were　not　permitted　to　create　a　division　in　the
church；　but　were　referred　to　a　general　council　of　the　entire　body　of
believers；　made　up　of　appointed　delegates　from　the　various　local　churches；
with　the　apostles　and　elders　in　positions　of　leading　responsibility。　Thus
the　efforts　of　Satan　to　attack　the　church　in　isolated　places　were　met　by
concerted　action　on　the　part　of　all；　and　the　plans　of　the　enemy　to　disrupt
and　destroy　were　thwarted。

〃God　is　not　the　author　of　confusion；　but　of　peace；　as　in　all　churches　of　the
saints。〃　I　Corinthians　14：33。　He　requires　that　order　and　system　be　observed
in　the　conduct　of　church　affairs　today　no　less　than　in　the　days　of　old。　He
desires　His　work　to　be　carried　forward　with　thoroughness　and　exactness　so
that　He　may　place　upon　it　the　seal　of　His　approval。　Christian　is　to　be
united　with　Christian；　church　with　church；　the　human　instrumentality
co…operating　with　the　divine；　every　agency　subordinate　to　the　Holy　Spirit；
and　all　combined　in　giving　to　the　world　the　good　tidings　of　the　grace　of
God。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　10

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　First　Christian　Martyr


Stephen；　the　foremost　of　the　seven　deacons；　was　a　man　of　deep　piety　and
broad　faith。　Though　a　Jew　by　birth；　he　spoke　the　Greek　language　and　was
familiar　with　the　customs　and　manners　of　the　Greeks。　He　therefore　found
opportunity　to　preach　the　gospel　in　the　synagogues　of　the　Greek　Jews。　He　was
very　active　in　the　cause　of　Christ　and　boldly　proclaimed　his　faith。　Learned
rabbis　and　doctors　of　the　law　engaged　in　public　discussion　with　him；
confidently　expecting　an　easy　victory。　But　〃they　were　not　able　to　resist　the
wisdom　and　the　spirit　by　which　he　spake。〃　Not　only　did　he　speak　in　the　power
of　the　Holy　Spirit；　but　it　was　plain　that　he　was　a　student　of　the　prophecies
and　learned　in　all　matters　of　the　law。　He　ably　defended　the　truths　that　he
advocated　and　utterly　defeated　his　opponents。　To　him　was　the　promise
fulfilled；　〃Settle　it　therefore　in　your　hearts；　not　to　meditate　before　what
ye　shall　answer：　for　I　will　give

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you　a　mouth　and　wisdom；　which　all　your　adversaries　shall　not　be　able　to
gainsay　nor　resist。〃　Luke　21：14；　15。

As　the　priests　and　rulers　saw　the　power　that　attended　the　preaching　of
Stephen；　they　were　filled　with　bitter　hatred。　Instead　of　yielding　to　the
evidence　that　he　presented；　they　determined　to　silence　his　voice　by　putting
him　to　death。　On　several　occasions　they　had　bribed　the　Roman　authorities　to
pass　over　without　comment　instances　where　the　Jews　had　taken　the　law　into
their　own　hands　and　had　tried；　condemned；　and　executed　prisoners　in
accordance　with　their　national　custom。　The　enemies　of　Stephen　did　not　doubt
that　they　could　again　pursue　such　a　course　without　d