The stories Stephen is recounting are of eternal consequence. They are part of the grand sweep of the story of God's redemption. That grand story is rooted in real people, over real time, facing real challenges, and serving to advance a narrative that would climax in the birth, life, teaching, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Stephen will get to that soon.
This story is all one long woven tapestry stretching from the first moment of creation when God said, "Let there be light," to the final day when Jesus returns and restores all broken, lost, and fallen things to their full beauty and glory. This story is not only true, or even most certainly true, it is eternally true and of the most profound significance of any story ever told. It's not just the same old story.
Let's lean in and listen well!
