of their money transactions.  But, whilst the Twelve, on this occasion, appealed to the suffrages of the Brotherhood, they reserved to themselves the right of confirming the election; and they might, by withholding ordination, have refused to fiat an improper appointment.  Happily no such difficulty occurred.  In compliance with the instructions addressed to them, the multitude chose seven of their number “whom they set before the apostles, and, when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” [54:3]

Prior to the election of the deacons, Peter and John had been incarcerated.  The Sanhedrim wished to extort from them a pledge that they would “not speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus,” [55:1] but the prisoners nobly refused to consent to any such compromise.  They “answered and said unto them—­Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” [55:2] The apostles here disclaimed the doctrine of passive obedience, and asserted principles which lie at the foundation of the true theory of religious freedom.  They maintained that “God alone is Lord of the conscience”—­that His command overrides all human regulations—­and that, no matter what may be the penalties which earthly rulers may annex to the breach of the enactments of their statute-book, the Christian is not bound to obey, when the civil law would compel him to violate his enlightened convictions.  But the Sanhedrim obviously despised such considerations.  For a time they were obliged to remain quiescent, as public feeling ran strongly in favour of the new preachers; but, soon after the election of the deacons, they resumed the work of persecution.  The tide of popularity now began to turn; and Stephen, one of the Seven, particularly distinguished by his zeal, fell a victim to their intolerance.

The martyrdom of Stephen appears to have occurred about three years and a half after the death of our Lord. [55:3] Daniel had foretold that the Messiah would “confirm the covenant with many for one week” [55:4]—­an announcement which has been understood to indicate that, at the time of his manifestation, the gospel would be preached with much success among his countrymen for seven years—­and if the prophetic week commenced with the ministry of John the Baptist, it probably terminated with this bloody tragedy. [56:1] The Christian cause had hitherto prospered in Jerusalem, and there are good grounds for believing that, mean while, it had also made considerable progress throughout all Palestine; but, at this date, it is suddenly arrested in its career of advancement.  The Jewish multitude begin to regard it with aversion; and the Roman governor discovers that he may, at any time, obtain the tribute of their applause by oppressing its ablest and most fearless advocates.