Standing as Saul

They lay their cloaks at my feet and jeer at this Stephen

As I stand and look on, witnessing with approval

My job is to assure the purity of our teachings

And to persecute and purge ideas which are evil

They lay their cloaks at my feet and gather around him

As I look on and encourage the crowd to stone him

This man who has been preaching about this Jesus

And against the very faith given to us by Abraham

They lay their cloaks at my feet and call for his death

I nod with approval that his man be silenced, his cause destroyed

The insults, the blasphemy, the disrespect, the damage he’s done

Will be undone now with Him gone

They lay their cloaks at my feet and pick up their stones

As I savor the feeling that I am doing God’s work

For I must protect our religion, our beliefs, our teachings

And my given mission is to do this

They lay down their cloaks at my feet and begin stoning him

And as I urge them on, the wounds take their toll

He must be silenced, his hurtful words cease, his blasphemy ended

With this, will it end, I ask myself?

But how is it that he still calls on this Jesus

Even as he is killed in His name?

How is it that he forgives us

Even unto his death for this Jesus?

They pick up their cloaks now, knocking the dust off their bloody sandals

And slowly walk back to their homes

As I stand there left alone with his bloody broken body

I look on as gently his friends cry and pray over him

As they wrap him gently and carry him away

My job is done, it is finished for now

Tomorrow I will continue to search out these blasphemers

Heading for another city, to find these people of “The Way”

How can he have called on this Jesus even while being stoned?

And even unto his death forgive us?

Who is this Jesus, this “Way” they speak of?

What is this new law, this salvation they speak of?

From where does this depth of belief come?

Who is this whose followers I persecute?

AC042307