I Appeal To Caesar!

Stephen rouses, and cries: “ Lord Jesus, receive my

spirit!”

Wounded deeply, bleeding profusely, Stephen makes one final effort: exerting all remaining strength, he forces himself into a contorted, kneeling position . Blood streams from his mouth as Stephen’s second and last prayer penetrates the heavy atmosphere: a plea, an entreaty, an unbelievable request for his executioners!

Silence reigns . . . and every person in the crowd is

stupefied by the electric words:

“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

Some in the crowd cry out, others go mute. Several women fall to the ground weeping profusely. The lifeless body collapses in a broken heap: Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian Church, “falls asleep,” the first of so many more martyrs who will pay the supreme price. Immediately transported to heaven, Stephen is crowned with the first and greatest of rewards, “The Martyr’s Crown”! Heaven roars its joyous welcome of earth’s rejected witness! * * * * * On earth, one item in the pit remains undone: absolute assurance that the victim is truly dead. A designated, strong man labors forward, carrying a huge rock. He positions himself close to the fallen martyr. Straining every muscle, he hoists the great rock overhead,