As a horror author, Stephen King has encountered his fair share of gruesome tales. However, the book of Acts in the Bible is filled to the brim with horror, drama and supernatural occurrences. It tells the story of the rise of Christianity, starting from the ascension of Jesus into heaven and moving on to the actions of his apostles after his departure from Earth.
One of the pivotal characters in the book is Stephen, himself, who was appointed by the apostles to assist in distributing food and aid to those in need. But it was not all sunshine and rainbows for Stephen, as he soon found himself in the crosshairs of the Jewish leaders who were not pleased with his beliefs.
His eventual stoning was one of the most harrowing events in the book, and it’s no wonder that Stephen King was both fascinated and repulsed by the details. The book of Acts describes how Stephen was brought before the Jewish High Council and accused of blasphemy. The council was so enraged that they not only stoned him to death, but they even used his own clothes to do it.
But despite the bloody violence and horrifying portrayal of events, the book of Acts also includes moments of hope and redemption. The story of the repentant thief on the cross and the spread of Christianity throughout the region are both tales of light amidst the darkness.
In the end, Stephen King might best sum up the book of Acts with a quote from one of his most famous works, “Stephen King’s IT”: “We all float down here… in the endless sea of faith, hope and terror that makes up the world of the Bible’s book of Acts.”
