Steadfast To The End

(Disponible en inglés y español)

 

Told through the voice of an unexpected narrator, this powerful 3-minute monologue recounts the unwavering faith of Stephen—the first Christian martyr. The audience is drawn into the tension of persecution, the calm courage in the face of lies and violence, and the steadfast commitment to Christ that never wavered. Only at the end is the speaker’s true identity revealed: Saul, the man who once led the charge against Stephen, transformed into the apostle Paul.

Cast:   1 male, monologue
Although marked with Actor 1–5 in the script, all lines are performed by a single actor.

Bible Reference:  Acts 6-8

Set:  bare

Lighting:  spot will be useful

Sound:  wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX:   none

Costumes:  traditional or contemporary

Props:      none

Special Instructions:   none

Time:     3

Sample script:      

Actor 1:
I am here to speak to you regarding Stephen, a man of God, a man of exceptionally good character, a man of miraculous God-given powers.
And I assure you I am qualified to speak, for I was one who knew intimately of his person and his practices. Knew, yes, but not always was one with his practices or priorities.

Although only a deacon in the early church, he had gifts and abilities at least equal to the more established apostles: Peter, John, James, and all the others.
Because of his firm, unwavering allegiance to all that Jesus, the Christ, stands for, this man soon found himself at odds with local religious authorities.

Fact is, this man was despised, not for wrongdoing, but rather as a threat to their domination over the masses. For, in a nutshell, the religious leaders simply could not compete on any level—intellect, wisdom, or knowledge—with this man.

Attempts at false accusations, threats, arrests, and beatings did nothing to move him from his persistent dedication to preaching the truth of the message.
Where others would surely have buckled under the incessant attacks, this man seemingly became the more resolute in staying the course.

And he, at all times and in all circumstances… appeared… calm.
Calm in the face of such organized and sustained opposition to all he stood for.
Even when despicable lies and half-truths were being flung in his face… he remained… calm.

Actor 2:
Some, in fact, would report that this man, in spite of interrogation and intimidation… had a face like that of an angel.
This man was “allowed” to state his defense.
But we all knew, as did the man himself, that nothing he would say would change the outcome, nor save his reputation, nor his life.

Actor 3:
And so it was that this man, although an able and gentle tactician in the skills of oratory, was now clinically direct, logical, and unrelenting.
He caused every one of us to feel discomfort and embarrassment.

And it allowed excuse to we, his accusers, to move from being a pack of petty liars into a cloak-tearing, raving mob, thirsting for blood.
We dragged him from the city to a convenient spot filled with stones of a convenient weight and size for a proper execution.