“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; _that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication_: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Verses 28, 29. 13. What charge was made against Stephen concerning his attitude toward the ceremonial law? “And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against _this holy place_, and _the law_: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall _change the customs which Moses delivered us_.” Acts 6:13, 14. 14. What similar charge was brought against the apostle Paul? “This fellow persuadeth men to worship God _contrary to the law_.” Acts 18:13. 15. What statement did Paul make concerning his faith and manner of worship? “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call _heresy_, so worship I the God of my fathers, _believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets_.” Acts 24:14. NOTE.—The charge against Stephen and Paul was not based upon any violation of the moral law, but upon their teaching concerning the ceremonial law; and Paul’s admission that he was guilty of what they called heresy meant simply that he differed from them as to the obligation to observe any longer the precepts of the law which was imposed upon them “until the time of reformation.” The simple fact that such charges were preferred against these able exponents and teachers of the gospel shows that in their view the ceremonial law had been abolished by the death of Christ, and that, like the giving of the moral law at Sinai it was designed to lead men to Christ. 16. What is one of the offices of the moral law? “Wherefore the law was _our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith_.” Gal. 3:24. 17. How is this same teaching expressed in another place? “For _Christ is the end of the law for righteousness_ to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:4. NOTE.—Murdock’s translation of the Syriac New Testament renders this passage: “For Messiah is the _aim_ of the law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth in Him.” 18. In what statement is there a similar use of the word end? “Receiving _the end of your faith_, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:9. See also 1 Tim. 1:5; James 5:11. NOTE.—In the ceremonial law there was “a shadow of good things to come,” a type of the mediatorial work of Christ, our great High Priest. The moral law makes known sin, places the sinner under condemnation, and forces him to Christ for pardon and cleansing. The ceremonial law was abolished by the work of Christ, but the moral law was established by both His life and death.