In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 388) Mrs. Eddy writes, "The Christian martyrs were prophets of Christian Science." Of these, Stephen was the first to lay down his earthly life as a witness to the truth of the resurrection and all that it implied. He was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," who not only attended to the business of the church as a deacon, but also found time to do "great wonders and miracles among the people." "The word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
But some of the synagogue, arguing with Stephen, were so furiously stirred by the spiritual wisdom with which he answered them that false witnesses were procured, a charge of blasphemy was raised, and Stephen was brought before the council, where those who looked on him "saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." They saw the spiritual love and compassion shining through the veil of the flesh, confronting malice and hatred.
His wonderful sermon, his recital of the events and prophecies leading up to the resurrection of Jesus, has been called Stephen's Apology. But it was not an apology in the modern sense of the word, but rather, in its earlier sense, that of offering good reasons for that which seemed wrong to his opponents.
