They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead.
(Acts of the Apostles 14-19-28)

Gabriel stooped now and picked up a stone. It was hard, small, and would be a delight to throw. He would not throw it but for a moment Paul was all that irritated him, all his anger was in that stone. Taking flight it would carry his anger and failure with it. He fingered the stone and it dropped to the lifeless ground from his nerveless fingers.

Men, his friends, were now crowding round Paul. Gabriel walked forward to help too but he was shy and afraid and he went back to his patch by the fallen stone.

The men, the disciples, the stone-throwers moved off. He was alone.