Distinguishing Between Life and Death
The Story of Stephen Retold
I turned my gaze from the priest to the crowd I had just noticed was starting to accumulate around us.
The crowd was growing anxious and was getting fidgety with my silence. The high priest noticed this and asked me, "Are these charges true?" Knowing that scared silence would not help my predicament, I slowly opened my mouth, afraid of the outcome. I had not planned some long formal speech the night before. But I know from experience that God will always be with me. If it is his will that I die to join him, I will willingly let these men take me.
I licked my lips waiting for the proper words to form in my head. And they did. I turned my attention away from the growing crowd and back to the priest. I could not handle the sad looks from my family, because looking at their eyes and expressions already told me my fate.
As much as I told myself to not be afraid I could not deny my human emotions. But instead of focusing on my fate that was already set in stone I focused on the priest and what I was saying. "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 'Leave your country and your people', God said, 'and go to the land I will show you'… (Go to Acts 7 to read Stephen's full speech)
I looked into the faces of the crowd waiting for there reactions, but I didn't need to wait. They were furious and looked like they were out to kill, which I had already predicted when I had started my speech. I looked back at my parents noticing the tears in their eyes. They had probably wanted me to lie and save myself but I knew they understood why I had to do what I did. Besides I had said what God told me to proving I did the right thing. What happens to me is in God's hands, it always was even before I accepted God as my savior. At that exact moment in time I had eyes for no one but God. I looked away from the angry crowd and up to the heavens where I saw the glory of God and His Son shine down upon me. At that time I had no fear, and knew my true fate was not death but everlasting life. I screamed to the crowd not once looking away from God. "Look", I shouted, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God". They covered their ears at my proclamation, and at the same time shielding themselves from the truth. They screamed at the top of their lungs in horror and rushed towards me. So I let them take me. I was taken to the city where they began my execution. They were going to stone me. I went willingly and not fighting back. I was no longer afraid of death. Though I knew the terrible crimes these people had committed I prayed for them. Saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit, I cried, "Lord do not hold this sin against them." I felt little pain in my demise. But in the end God wasn't the one who gave me death, he gave me life. So now my story lives on in the pages of the Bible, God's Holy word, and in the pages of this assignment.
I decided to retell the story of Stephen and his death because I felt that it really is amazing what lengths some people will go through for God. Some people may say "the story of Stephen is depressing". But it really isn't, that man went up against everything, putting it all on the line, fighting for God and his faith. And even after all of his pain he forgave the people who hurt him and even asked God to forgive them. And to me it's truly amazing someone could do that.
By Cheyenne Wheeler 23