Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/802

 Whilst Stephen  was  being  put  to  death,  a young  man, named Saul, held  the  garments  of  the  murderers. But Stephen,  falling on his  knees,  cried  with  a loud  voice :  “Lord,  lay  not  this  sin to their  charge!”  When  he  had  said  these  words,  he  expired.

The Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ.  St.  Stephen  testified  to  our  Lord’s Divinity in  three  ways: by  his  prayer,  by  his  vision,  and  by  his  blood, i. He  confessed  Jesus  to  be  his  “Lord”  or  his  God,  and  prayed  to Him  to  receive  his  soul  into  heaven;  and  he  prayed  to  Him  also  not to condemn  his  murderers,  but  to  forgive  them. 2. He  declared  that he saw  Jesus  standing  at  the  right  hand  of  God  in  heaven. He was therefore an  eye-witness  of  our  Lord’s  glory  in  heaven. 3. On account  of  this  testimony  he  suffered  a violent  death,  bearing  witness with his  own  blood  to  the  Divinity  of  Jesus, and  being  therefore  a martyr  for  his  faith. Being, moreover,  the  first  disciple  to  give  his  life and blood  for  Jesus,  he  is  known  and  venerated  as  the  proto-martyr, or first  martyr.

The Diaconate.  The  word  “deacon”  means  minister  or  helper. The diaconate  is  a spiritual  office,  and  is  a stepping-stone  to  the  priesthood; for  a man  must  be  a deacon  before  he  can  be  a priest. We are told  how  the  apostles  ordained  the  deacons. The outward  sign  of their  sacramental  ordination  was  the  imposition  of  hands,  with  prayer; and thereby  the  seven  men  received  grace  and  authority  to  perform