Stephen, a Soldier of the Cross

by Florence Morse Kingsley

Starting in the deserts of Egypt, a blind sister and her powerful brother, find themselves the target of desert thieves. After hearing the reports of miracles in Jerusalem, they find themselves in the midst of the greatest, most life-changing event in history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Classics, Biblical Fiction, Biblical

236 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1895

About the author

Florence Morse Kingsley (July 14, 1859 – November 7, 1937) was an American authoress of popular and religious fiction.

Florence Morse Kingsley was born in Poe, Medina County, Ohio, to artists Eleanor Ecob and Jonathan Bradley Morse. Florence grew up in Brecksville Township, Ohio where her parents were educators in the local school district.

Florence Morse was a student at Wellesley College from 1876 to 1879. However, she had to leave before graduating because of a severe eye problem. She married Reverend Charles Rawson Kingsley, son of Frances Elizabeth Rawson and Charles Clark Kingsley on July 12, 1882 in Utica, New York. Dr. Charles and Mrs Florence Kingsley had five children: Charles Rawson Kingsley, Jr., Donald Morse Kingsley, Grace Ecob Kingsley, James Morse Kingsley, and John Bradley Kingsley.

Florence Morse Kingsley was a contemporary of fellow writer Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur.

When Kingsley was thirty-five, a publisher held a writing competition to obtain the best manuscript that would inspire a child’s faith for Christ. It was in this contest that Florence Kingsley submitted her manuscript for Titus: A Comrade of the Cross. In six weeks, 200,000 copies had been printed to meet demand. She later published two other works of Christian fiction: the sequel to her original entitled Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross, and the epic tale The Cross Triumphant.

Kingsley was featured in, and a contributing writer to, the Ladies' Home Journal.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great story! I really enjoyed reading the continued story after reading Titus: A Comrade of the Cross. It was nice to read of several of the same people with some new mixed in, as well

[Erin Osumi-Demotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Book By This Author

in these days we live in, it's becoming harder and harder to find Biblical Christian Fiction that's truly wonderful to read...
( I now have to Google the Authors biographies to see exactly where they stand... On the Rock of Jesus Christ ? Where no wind, wave, storm, trial or tribulations, that beat upon that "One and Faithful Rock" will cause people to fall... Or upon the sinking sand, where the wind blows and the waves crash... and great is the fall of those who have built their "world view" upon the unsteady foundation's of the shifting sand... where no foundation can be laid, because the ground is shallow, and when the storm comes " as they always do " great is the fall of those who build their world view upon the sand... and great is their fall. )
The Rock is Jesus Christ, and HIS WORD, and the great authors I like to find ( because I love Historical Christian Fiction ) are those authors who truly Know Jesus Christ, that HE IS the 2nd PERSON of the Trinity, and that Jesus Christ is GOD... as proclaimed in the Scriptures, in the New Testament and the Old Testament...
I don't care if the book has editing, or spelling errors. Or if they mix up the " Many Mary's " in the Gospels ( I'm not talking about the mother of our LORD )
I'm talking about books you read and their their of Sound Doctrine... not trying to write about a "different Jesus" that were warned about in the Scriptures...

This book and it's series is truly a great read, a read that brings you closer to our LORD ans Savior, Jesus Christ... wile always keeping in mind that it's fiction... truly this author KNOWS the LORD....
So, I give it 5 stars

[Bettie]

Opening: "Bounteous Nile! Father of all living! Garlanded with lotus blooms, rosy as Horus!"

As these words rang out over the rocky hillside in a clear sweet voice, two men who were climbing the steep declivity paused a moment and looked at each other.

"That is the voice," said one of them in a tone of deep satisfaction. "A voice of gold truly, if only breathed forth into royal ears."

"There are two of them," said his companion, wiping his hot face. "The other is a boy, a water-carrier.'

"Good! He also will bring a fair price. Valuable property both, and going to waste like water spilled in the desert. Why buy slaves for gold, when they grow wild in the desert?" And the speaker laughed under his breath.

"Thou art a favorite of the gods," said the other with a venomous gleam in his narrow black eyes. "In thy heaven-bestowed wisdom forget not that it was I who came upon the two nesting in a corner of yonder old tomb like a pair of swallows."

[Luke Deacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful retelling of some of the book of Acts. A truly heartwarming, inspiring story of a man who saw and was so amazed at the glory and mercy of God, that he spent his life in joyful service impacting many others! A great story and a great example. Some of my favourite lines: "Then she sank feebly upon her knees... and buried her face in her hands. Is it for naught that misery instinctively assumes this attitude? Nay, rather, it is the divine impulse of the suffering soul, a blind and voiceless feeling after a hand in the darkness. And the hand is always there." (P.91)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to Titus has drawn me in. Hearing the story of Stephen made me cry. I can’t imagine living in this time period and being stoned for my faith. I love how the author weaves fiction while the Biblical account of these people to bring them to life. Amazing.

[Johanna Knopf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Lamplighter's best publications. A good 1/3 - 1/2 of the material is direct (and uncredited) quotes from the Bible. This lazy writing would be deemed plagiarism if taken from another source.

[Bcs (Sarah. B) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, ( that may have something to do with Stephen being my second favorite person in the Bible) although I did lose interest at the end, but if you keep reading, you'll get a small surprise.

[Ste Fy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, based on what's written in the Bible also.

[Debbie Rhoades]

Loved the lamplighter book that I read in 2005

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

[A little review of mine from when I originally read this book; going thru my old Excel spreadsheet of books.]

One of the most exciting and inspiring books. (I've read it three times!)

[Becky Harris]

There are some Catholic leanings in this but you can't deny the author's heart was truly to try to encourage a child to fall more in love with Jesus. I admire that in both this and Titus, Comrade of the Cross. An enjoyable series. I like that there are some carry overs from the first book and the characters are expanded upon and grown (which wasn't always common for this era's children's books like this.)

[Jarm Boccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story transports you into the New Testament times, weaving together the lives of those who knew Jesus or those who followed him, including Saul of Tarsus. Some realistic scenarios, even though it's Biblical fiction!

[B]

Good, although it was much harder for me to get through than TITUS: A Soldier of the Cross, and not as engrossing. But I still enjoyed reading it.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traces of Roman Catholic thought make their way into this excellent narrative. Recommended.

[A Hoppy Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
It's seriously hard to find books by this author online despite them all being in the public domain. Touching, fictionalized account of an early martyr.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!