- SCEPTRE (Hebrews shebet = Gr. skeptron), properly a staff or rod. As a
symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the
ruler was as a shepherd of his people (Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17;
Psalm 45:6; Isaiah 14:5). There is no example on record of a sceptre having
ever been actually handled by a Jewish king. - SCEVA an implement, a Jew, chief of the priests at Ephesus (Acts
19:13-16); i.e., the head of one of the twenty-four courses of the house of
Levi. He had seven sons, who “took upon them to call over them which
had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus,” in imitation of Paul. They
tried their method of exorcism on a fierce demoniac, and failed. His answer
to them was to this effect (19:15): “The Jesus whom you invoke is One
whose authority I acknowledge; and the Paul whom you name I recognize
to be a servant or messenger of God; but what sort of men are ye who have
been empowered to act as you do by neither?” (Lindsay on the Acts of the
Apostles.) - SCHISM a separation, an alienation causing divisions among Christians,
who ought to be united (1 Corinthians 12:25). - SCHOOLMASTER the law so designated by Paul (Galatians 3:24, 25).
As so used, the word does not mean teacher, but pedagogue (shortened
into the modern page), i.e., one who was intrusted with the supervision of
a family, taking them to and from the school, being responsible for their
safety and manners. Hence the pedagogue was stern and severe in his
discipline. Thus the law was a pedagogue to the Jews, with a view to
Christ, i.e., to prepare for faith in Christ by producing convictions of guilt
and helplessness. The office of the pedagogue ceased when “faith came”,
i.e., the object of that faith, the seed, which is Christ. - SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS (1 Samuel 19:18-24; 2 Kings 2:3, 5, 7,
12, 15) were instituted for the purpose of training young men for the
prophetical and priestly offices. (See PROPHET; SAMUEL.) - SCORPIONS mentioned along with serpents (Deuteronomy 8:15). Used
also figuratively to denote wicked persons (Ezekiel 2:6; Luke 10:19); also a
particular kind of scourge or whip (1 Kings 12:11). Scorpions were a
species of spider. They abounded in the Jordan valley. - SCOURGING (1 Kings 12:11). Variously administered. In no case were
the stripes to exceed forty (Deuteronomy 25:3; comp. 2 Corinthians
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