Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers;" there was then only the tabernacle "unto the days of David. Who found grace before God, and desired to find" a place whereon to build "a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. Yet the Most High dwelleth not in houses made by hand, as the prophet saith: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. What house will you build me, saith the Lord, or what is the place of my resting? Hath not my hand made all these things?"

The foregoing was pronounced in that calm and moderate tone which befits an instructive recital; but Stephen soon changes it for another. Whether he considered that invective would be the most successful, because the least expected; or that, reading in the eyes of his auditors their inflexible obstinacy, he found it useless to attempt conciliation: "You stiff-necked," he suddenly added, in a transport of indignant zeal, Jews are ye in name, but "uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: you, who have received the law of the ministry of angels, and have not kept it."

Notwithstanding the impetuosity of this attack, its reasoning was both strong and cogent against the Jews. The argument it contained was: Your fathers have at all times resisted those who spoke to them on the part of God. We believe that you resemble them in this point. Believe it also yourselves: at least, fear it, and give not way too rashly to that passion, which, under the appearance of zeal, may well be in active opposition to the divine will. This is what Gamaliel had before established, though in a different way. His discourse had been to a certain extent satisfactory to his hearers, but not so with this. Being more vehement, it did but embitter and exasperate the wicked hearts of those who heard him. "Hearing these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him." God permitted it to be so, that Stephen might have the honor of being the first martyr. "But"-and this it was that excited them to fury-"he being full of the Holy Ghost, looking steadfastly up to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus stand

ing on the right hand of God (1). And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Then, as if it had been blasphemy to relate a celestial vision, "they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him (2): and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (3). And falling on his knees he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (4). And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord (a). And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral, and made great mourning over him (5).

(a) Chap. viii., ver. 2.

(1) St. Stephen saw with the eyes of his body the sacred humanity of the Saviour; God having, by a miracle, rendered it visible to him at such an immense distance. It is difficult to determine what he saw that is here called the glory of God. Whatever it was we are bound to believe, though some maintain the contrary, that it was not the divine essence in itself, for, many years subsequent to, this vision, the apostle St. John wrote: No man hath seen God at any time (John, i. 18).

It is said in several passages of the Holy Scriptures that Jesus is seated on the right hand of God. This is expressive of his equality with his Father, and of the eternal repose which has succeeded the toils of his mortal life. On this occasion he appears standing, ready to succor and to crown his champion.

(2) Was this the punishment which God had decreed for blasphemers? It was ordained that the witnesses should be those who threw the first stone (Deut., xvii. 7). They took off their outer garments so as to have their arms free.

They stoned him without any judgment having been pronounced upon him. One would suppose that having no longer the right of condemning to death, they would have gone to Pilate to solicit his consent. But it seems that their rage would not permit them to wait for any form. This was one of those tumultuous movements then so common amongst the Jews, and which the Roman magistrates could not always control.

(3) Jesus, when expiring, addressed the same prayer to his Father. To address it to himself was confessing his divinity, and his equality with the Father.

(4) We here see the difference between the false zeal which springs from fanaticism, and that true zeal which has charity for its basis. The former smites, while the latter demands mercy for its persecutors.

Zeal is, of all virtues, the noblest, and yet the most liable to illusion; just as the most precious substances are the most exposed to be adulterated and counterfeited. It must be cherished, and yet carefully watched.

(5) By this great mourning is not only understood tears and lamentations, but also the funeral honors which were rendered to St. Stephen.