Summary: Aimed at jolting us out of our over-familiarity with the story of Pentecost.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 1 minute.
Actors: 4M/F
Scripture: Acts ch. 2 vv 1-4.

Characters :
P = Producer .    
1 = 1st reader.
2 = 2nd reader.   
Witness
(n.b. use actual names of the two readers in the sketch.)

Script

(All 4 are “on stage” all the time, but the Witness is at the side or the back, perhaps just sitting with hands on his/her lap, until No.2 speaks, at which s/he starts to take an interest.
P : “Now look, we only have a few minutes before this Pentecost service, on the theme of “The Holy Spirit”,  starts, and this rehearsal is going nowhere. These first 4  verses from Acts chapter 2 are serious, crucial verses, and we must convey this …… (No.1) , let’s hear you again, one more time” .
1 : (serious, but utterly monotonous and without expression). “When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting ….”
P : (interrupting during these last words) “Stop, stop ! ….these are powerful verses, about one of the most vital moments in the history of Christianity …..(No.2) you try, and let’s have some feeling, some passion ….”
2 : (by contrast to no.1, no. 2 is totally OTT, hamming it up, arm movements, the lot). “When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting …..”
P : (again interrupting, clearly very distressed) “Stop, stop !” …..(as an aside) “if only one of us had actually been there …..”
Witness : (stepping forward, perhaps gently pushing him/herself to the front) : “I was there” (others freeze and stare at him/her while s/he speaks. The rest of this is spoken with the clarity and passion of a first-hand witness, and with warmth, as one would share an exciting memory with friends. It must be learned off-by-heart, not by reading lines.)
On the day of Pentecost, all of us were gathered together. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where we were sitting. We saw tongues of fire, which spread out and touched each one of us. We were all filled with the Holy Spirit , and began to talk in other languages…..
(All exit as the Witness continues)
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© Chris Sloan, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. He may be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.