Acts 6:9-15

VII. PENTECOSTAL CHURCH IN ITS LAST STRUGGLE AND DISPERSION, Acts 6:8 to Acts 8:4.

2. Zeal and Arraignment of Stephen, Acts 6:9-15 .

As the name of Peter stands at the head of the catalogue of apostles to indicate that he was preeminent in character, though possessed of no official authority over the rest, so the name of Stephen (whose name signifies crown) crowns the list of deacons. It was thereby his mission to disturb the delusive repose into which the Pentecostal Church was forgetfully declining by bringing out into uncompromising prominence the doctrine of our Lord’s discourse (Matthew 25:0,) that the ritual was to disappear and merge into the Universal Church.