Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, June 22, 2013 Read – Luke 23:32-49 The purpose of reading Luke’s story of the death of Jesus is simply to notice how the death of Stephen parallels the death of Jesus. Both deaths have much in common – the victim is innocent, the victim asks for forgiveness of those who perpetrate the death, the victim commends his spirit into the hand of God. Followers of Jesus are to indeed “follow” Jesus – even in death.