The teacher was telling her girls the story of a man named Dirk who wouldn't revoke his beliefs which put him in jail. On his way to be burned on the stake, his guard fell into the freezing water so Dirk came back and saved him then they continued to have Dirk executed at the stake.
This sounds very familiar. Any idea who this person is?
Thanks in advance
Originally Published in Anabaptism Today, Issue 6, June 1994
Late in the winter of 1569, Dirk Willems of Holland was discovered as an Anabaptist, and a thief catcher came to arrest him at the village of Asperen. Running for his life, Dirk came to a body of water still coated with ice. After making his way across in great peril, he realised his pursuer had fallen through into the freezing water.1
Turning back, Dirk ran to the struggling man and dragged him safely to shore. The thief catcher wanted to release Dirk, but a burgomaster - having appeared on the scene - reminded the man he was under oath to deliver criminals to justice. Dirk was bound off to prison, interrogated, and tortured in an unsuccessful effort to make him renounce his faith. He was tried and found guilty of having been rebaptised, of holding secret meetings in his home, and of allowing baptism there - all of which he freely confessed.
"Persisting obstinately in his opinion", Dirk was sentenced to execution by fire. On the day of execution, a strong east wind blew the flames away from his upper body so that death was long delayed. The same wind carried his voice to the next town, where people heard him cry more than seventy times, "O my Lord; my God". The judge present was "finally filled with sorrow and regret". Wheeling his horse around so he saw no more, he ordered the executioner, "Dispatch the man with a quick death."
Thanks. That was a better answer than I hoped for. Googling the name Dirk brings up hundreds of thousands of Facebook pages but no biblical stories.
Cheers
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH