The Burial of Stephen
P. C. Horton. Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. The action of these devout men — I. EXPRESSES AFFECTIONATE SORROW FOR THEIR DEPARTED FRIEND. The religion of Christ does not destroy our feelings as men. It makes the already gentle and loving heart more loving and gentle still, and fills the stern, the frozen breast, with warm and generous feeling. What a change it wrought in that young man, at whose feet Stephen's murderers laid their clothes! The devout men were not yielding to unmanly or unchristian emotions. The religion of Jesus would moderate their grief, but it would not restrain their tears. Jesus Himself wept at the grave of a friend. And Stephen had been their friend. II. IMPLIES THAT THEIR SORROW WOULD BE CHASTENED BY SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD. They knew who had said, "The hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service." They also knew who had said, whilst Himself drinking a cup far more bitter than Stephen's, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done." And did they not know that that sufferer had left His disciples an example that they should tread in His steps? and that now He was Lord of all, and could dash His enemies in places, like a potter's vessel? And therefore these devout men would in submission say, amid all their tears, "It is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good. The Lord gave — the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord." III. INFERS THAT THEY WOULD BE INFLUENCED BY KINDEST SYMPATHY TOWARDS STEPHEN'S SURVIVING RELATIONS. What was their loss compared with the loss sustained by such? The loss of a friend is not so great as the loss of a son — the loss of a father — the loss of a husband. To such the loss would be irreparable, or could only be made up by Him who is better than ten thousand sons, and who has said, "Leave thy fatherless children unto Me, I will provide, and let thy widows trust in Me." And would not these devout men sympathise with the widow and the orphan and the mother who had lost such a relative as Stephen? "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." IV. LEADS US TO SUPPOSE THAT THEY COULD NOT ALLOW SUCH AN OCCASION TO PASS AWAY WITHOUT EARNEST PRAYER THAT THIS BEREAVEMENT WHICH THE CHURCH HAD SUSTAINED MIGHT BE SANCTIFIED TO THE CHURCH'S INTERESTS. The burden of their prayer would probably be, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth," etc. Who can tell what influence they had in the calling of Saul of Tarsus? Would they not also pray, "Lord, teach us to cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils, and trust alone in Thee"? And would not these prayers be blended with thanksgivings for the grace given to their departed brother? V. SUGGESTS THE HOPE OF A BLESSED REUNION WITH THEIR DEPARTED FRIEND AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST. They sorrowed not as men without hope. They knew their brother had fallen asleep in Jesus; and surely they believed that them who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. VI. WOULD THERE NOT BE RENEWED CONSECRATION TO THE SERVICE OF GOD? The storm of persecution raged, and they were scattered by its violence — but not as flock that has lost or left the shepherd. No; rather scattered as rays of light, to become the lights of the world, to be as flames of fire in the service of the Saviour (ver. 4). And He that gave the word went with them, giving effect to the Word of His grace, so that the Word of the Lord had free course, and was glorified. So it ought ever to be. The work of the Lord must be done. It will be done, whether by us or not; but if not, we gain no reward. "Work while it is called to-day — the night cometh in which no man can work." (P. C. Horton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. WEB: Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.