THE LITERARY MARVELS OF ST. LOKE. 



185 



(Luke xxiii, 46), quoting Ps. xxxi, 5, in which this word is used 

 in the Septuagint version. Dean Alford gives the rendering 

 " to deUver up " — a meaning which is certainly impHed in 

 Luke xii, 48, and ii Tim. ii, 2, in which the same word is em- 

 ployed. Stephen, when dying, used the word Bexo/JLao, 

 which simply means receive or admit. The one when dying 

 addressed God the Father, the other the Lord Jesus. 



The third and last of Stephen's sayings was the prayer, " Lord, 

 lay not this sin to their charge : it resembles the first saying 

 of our Lord on the cross, " Father, forgive them, for they know 

 not what they do " (Luke xxiii, 34). 



The death of Stephen not only points back emphatically 

 to the Death of our Lord, but it also marks a very important 

 crisis in the growth of the Church. 



For a persecution against the behevers arose at the time 

 of the first Martyr's death, and consequently many were scattered 

 abroad in different countries ; they faithfully took the oppor- 

 tunity to preach the Lord Jesus wherever they went, '* and 

 a great number that beheved turned unto the Lord " (xi, 19-21). 



The account of the death of Stephen also introduces the 

 reader to the persecuting Saul, so soon to become the Spirit- 

 fiJled, enthusiastic Paul, who was to be the chief human agent 

 in promoting the growth of the infant Church. The influence 

 of Stephen on Paul must have been immense : one indication 

 of it is shown by the fact that the Apostle's first recorded speech 

 at Antioch in Pisidia (xiii, 16-41) greatly resembles the djdng 

 address of the first martyr (vii, 2-53). 



(20) A triplet of triplications. 



As in the Gospel, so in the Acts, we may group the five 

 triphcations into three, thus forming a triplet of triphcations, 

 No. (20) in the Acts, corresponding to and pointing back to No. (26) 

 in the Gospel of St. Luke. 



No. {20) in the Acts also emphasizes the progress of the Gospel. 



The first component, made up of Nos. {15) and {16), strongly 

 indicates the boldness of the behevers, and the protection 

 afforded to them at that time by the Romans. 



The second component, Nos. (17) and {18), also speaks of 

 good progress, because the leaaer Paul received such good and 

 such widespread testimony to his character. 



The last component tells of the death of Stephen, which 



