FOUR CENTURIES OF SILENCE RULERS OF THE 400 SILENT YEARS

distinguished here from those called Hebrews which are native Jews, being born in Palestine, who spoke what was then termed the Hebrew language.

The church at this time lived a community life, that is, they had all things common, (Acts 4:34,35). To keep peace in the Church, the apostles instructed the people to choose Seven men among themselves of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, and appoint them over this business.

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost; Philip, Prochorus,

Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These men were called deacons.

There was a synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of

Cilicia and Asia that disputed with Stephen but they could not resist the wisdom and spirit of Stephen.

The Libertines were foreign Jews, probably Jews that had been taken captive by other nations. They were most likely slaves that had been liberated. Alexandrians were Jews of Alexandra, Egypt. Cyrenians were of North Africa. Cilicia was in Asia-Minor.

14. CHAPTER VII - Stephen’s Martyrdom.

In the sixth chapter, seven men were chosen by the people to assist the apostles in the daily ministration.

The apostles laid hands on them and ordained them for the work they were chosen to do. They were called deacons.

In 31 A.D. Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people, and was called before the same council that condemned Jesus and had attempted to stop the apostles from preaching in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18. Annas and Caiaphas were present.

Stephen’s message was an outline of Old Testament history. In closing his message, Stephen preached “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: As your Gathers did, so do ye”, and when they heard these things, they gnashed on him with their teeth, (Acts 7:51-60). “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, He is none of His”, (Romans 8:9,10). Stephen, while being stoned to death, completely manifested the Spirit of Christ. In Luke 23:34

Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. Stephen said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”, and he fell asleep. Stephen was the first martyr of the Apostolic Church.

This is Paul’s first appearance in the Church, 31 AD. He was first called Saul, his Jewish name, then later Paul, his Gentile name. “Saul” was Latin and “Paul” was Roman.

Paul was born 1 B.C. in Tarsus of Cilicia. Paul was a Roman citizen “free born”, a strict Pharisee and very zealous of that religion. He was educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the most eminent and famous of all the doctors of the law. He did much to wreck the Church until his conversion. He would later write of this persecution, showing his regret and ignorance in so doing it. In Php 3:6 he said, “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” In Ga 1:13 he wrote, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time