an author who believes in the convincing character of narrative, through a retelling of that people’s history. Those readers who object that the greater part of Stephen’s speech is beside the point simply show that they have not grasped what the point is. Luke is working very much like a Hellenistic historian when he has Stephen deliver a history lesson at this critical moment. Herodotus shows us two sides in a fierce battle giving speeches which defend their claims by means of ancestral traditions