bi in this synagogue and one of Stephen's opponents in
argument? At all events, when the argument of logic was exchanged for
that of violence, he was in the front. When the witnesses who cast the
first stones at Stephen were stripping for their work, they laid down
their garments at his feet. There, on the margin of that wild scene,
in the field of judicial murder, we see his figure, standing a little
apart and sharply outlined against the mass of persecutors unknown to
fame--the pile of many-colored robes at his feet, and his eyes bent
upon the holy martyr, who is kneeling in the article of death and
praying: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

34. The Persecutor.--His zeal on this occasion brought Paul
prominently under the notice of the authorities. It probably procured
him a seat in the Sanhedrin, where we find him soon afterward giving
his vote against the Christians. At all events, it led to his being
entrusted with the work of utterly uprooting Christianity, which the
authorities now resolved upon. He accepted their proposal; for he
believed it to be God's work. He saw more clearly than any one else
what was the drift of Christianity; and it seemed to him destined, if
unchecked, to overturn all that he considered most sacred. The repeal
of the law was in his eyes the obliteration of the one way of
salvation, and faith in a crucified Messiah blasphemy against the
divinest hope of Israel. Besides, he had a deep personal interest in
the task. Hitherto he had been striving to please God, but always felt
his efforts to come short; here was a chance of making up for all
arrears by one splendid act of service. This was the iron of agony in
his soul which gave edge and energy to his zeal. In any case he was
not a man to do things by halves; and he flung himself headlong into
his task.

35. Terrible were the scenes which ensued. He flew from synagogue to
synagogue, and from house to house, dragging forth men and women, who
were cast into prison and punished. Some appear to have been put to
death, and--darkest trait of all--others were compelled to blaspheme
the name of the Saviour. The Church at Jerusalem was broken in pieces,
and such of its members as escaped the rage of the persecutor were
scattered over the neighboring provinces and countries.

36. It may seem too venturesome to call this the last stage of Paul's
unconscious preparation for his apostolic career. But so indeed it
was.