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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Personal Peace (06/01/06)
Thwack! The first stone hurtled out of the crowd and struck Stephen on the left side of his head. He fell to the ground as drops of blood trickled down his cheek. Before he could rise to his feet more stones began crashing into him, fueled by the hate of the mob. They were angry and he would suffer.

As more and more stones rained down upon him, his mind began to wander. He never signed up for this. His dreams had been filled with visions of changed lives, conversions, and salvation for all men. Not stones. Stephen’s message had been hard, but it was the truth. Didn’t they care about the truth? Didn’t they want to hear about Jesus?

Thwack! He heard his kneecap shatter as the stone connected. The jolt brought him out of the recesses of his thoughts. The pain was so intense and so encompassing that he leaned over and vomited. No longer able to stand, he huddled with his arms covering his head. As the darkness encroached his consciousness began to waver. The pain was now so intense and so frequent. There was no relief, just constant torment.

Suddenly light obliterated the darkness. Strength flooded through Stephen’s body and he stood. The stones continued to assault him, but for some reason he could no longer feel them. He could see Jesus and he was overwhelmed with a peace he had never felt. The current pain and suffering he endured was nothing compared to the joy that awaited him. At that moment he prayed that the people who were delivering him to death would be forgiven. Then he lifted his hands to the heavens and asked Jesus to bring him home.

*****************************************

In the crowd stood a young man named Saul. He hated this blasphemer and enjoyed watching him suffer. Just as it seemed that it was all over, the man stood up and raised his hands to the sky. This enraged the crowd and they threw more stones with a renewed fury. The stones found their mark repeatedly, yet amazingly the man seemed unfazed. He just kept looking up and it seemed that he was praying. Saul couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but the man actually looked peaceful! In the next instant the man collapsed and he was no more. As he walked away from the crowd, Saul knew he would never forget what he saw that day.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
06/09/06
There's definitely room to expand this--to give your readers the opportunity to feel what Stephen (or Saul) are feeling. You're on the right track, for sure.
Marilyn Schnepp 
06/10/06
Great story retold...needs a scripture reference for those who are not familiar with the story - but well written and I enjoyed reliving that biblical story that first brought Saul (Paul) to light.
Virginia Gorg
06/13/06
Very well done. I always think it's quite significant that Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55 & on). Very vivid and an interesting telling from Stephen's viewpoint.