I Appeal To Caesar!

Saul does not stride from the Stoning Field in confidence; he walks slowly, somewhat bent over, as though worried, dejected and insecure, feeling a strange weakness deep within. His face registers shocked belief rather than critical evaluation. His eyes stare forward, seldom blinking. He pushes the enormity of the stoning to the back of his mind. Saul still retains a personal confidence in his own dedication to the Law and the life of being a Pharisee—strong voices that challenge the authenticity of Stephen, and the stoning. He does not feel that he has a new decision to make. He has made his decision: he is a descendant of Abraham and Moses, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a defender of the Law of God. Ironically, in later years, Saul (later known as Paul) will be stoned for this same faith in Jesus in the city of Lystra —only to be revived though the prayers of fellow Christians. At this moment, of course, Saul could not conceive that he would so suffer or even die by Roman execution as a follower of this Jesus . . . the so-called Christ, the God of the followers of Jesus that he must exterminate. * * * * * The stoning of Stephen does not change the beliefs and feelings of Saul the Pharisee. In fact, he becomes more convinced and adamant that Christianity is an adversary to the Judaism he loves.

Saul will now exterminate Christians with great zeal, persecuting without mercy. This stoning field outside