TO THE TOWER OF ANTONIA
“Whom the gods destroy they first make mad.”
“God is a jealous God, and he will not be the God of the heathen until
they submit and bow to him as the God of Israel! They are accursed!”
It was the voice of Saulus; and his words, uttered in vehement tones, rang
through the Lyceum. His countenance was flushed, hands tightly clinched,
and his gestures violent.
A tumult of applause followed from the ultra‐Pharisaical party, who were
all partisans of Saulus.
The hall was thronged with a motley crowd from the streets, including
people of all degrees, as well as the pupils of Gamaliel. The disputation
was one of unwonted fervor, so that several were finally drawn into it who
had come in only as lookers‐on. The Rabban was not present; and, as the
controversy became heated, the young student who was presiding found it
impossible to preserve any semblance of order.
Victor Serenus arose to answer the argument of Saulus, who had ended a
long harangue for Jewish exclusiveness with the words above given. His
commanding presence, serene bearing, and perfect self‐command caused a
sudden hush. With dignified mien and a graceful wave of the hand he
commenced his argument.
“I bring you peace, but I must judge righteously. I also am a Jew of the
Dispersion, but must call in question the conclusion of the matter as
given by my friend Saulus. As a native of Alexandria, a friend of Philo,
and a disciple of the eminent and tolerant Rabban, my voice is for
spiritual freedom. To‐day, O fellow‐members of the Assembly! I openly wash
my hands of the ‘mint, anise, and cummin’ of the sect of the Pharisees. I
hesitate no longer to boldly affirm the truth which I have long felt
stirring within me. The traditions taught by the scribes and elders have
become burdens upon men’s shoulders too grievous to be longer borne. God
is God over all, and no respecter of persons. He is not merely a tribal
Deity, local and Jewish, but the Father of all nations and peoples to the
ends of the earth.”
The liberal faction, including a few Greeks and Romans who were scattered
among the throng, signified their approval, while the adherents of Saulus
cried out with fierce exclamations of condemnation.
A little apart from the common seats, in the gallery of the women, was a
place especially reserved for the wives and daughters of the Rabban and
his friends. Here was seated a young girl who was an interested observer
of the disputation. As we shall have somewhat to do with her in the
future, a brief introduction is not amiss. Her features, which were mildly
of the Jewish type, were very regular and beautiful, and her bearing and
expression bore evidence of grace and refinement. Her form was of medium
size, willowy and symmetrical; and from under rather prominent brows and
lashes shone out large soft dark eyes, radiantly expressive and ingenuous.
She was in the early flush of youth. A richly embroidered Syrian gauze
scarf was wrapped lightly about her head; and her dark locks, which
slightly curled, were loosely gathered in a light golden clasp, which was
ornamented with pearls, at the back of the neck. She wore a robe of
delicate hue, which was clasped lightly about her form, simply but richly
ornamented. While outwardly serene, there seemed to be that within the
damsel which, perchance, could be stirred into a tempest of feeling, and
melt the outward reserve by its warmth and intensity. If there was the
slight semblance of coldness, it was so thin as to be almost transparent.
She bore a dignified air of quality, not as signifying pride or
exclusiveness, but as if the outward form was only the setting of a
precious gem. A spiritual interpreter would have divined the subtile
individual richness as rare soul‐quality. But withal her eyes were the
dazzling feature of her whole personality. They might truly be defined as
both melting and penetrative. The warmth of a pure and lovely soul was
poured out through them.
As the tumult continued, Victor Serenus turned about; and while carelessly
surveying the throng, his glance met that of the damsel, which seemed to
be intently fastened upon him. Serenus was thrilled, as by an electric
shock, and for a moment forgot the uproar, his argument—himself. The
innocent cause of this unwonted perturbation was Amabel, the only daughter
of the Rabban. The clamor of the throng died away, and Serenus quickly
recovered himself and continued,—
“Judaism must have a higher and freer development, for the spirit of the
law hath been killed by the letter. O brothers of the assembly! We must
free ourselves from an entanglement of dead ordinances and ceremonies, and
be interpreters of the truth, not only to the Gentiles, but to the
families of Israel. If ye have an indwelling experience of a divine faith,
the outward letter of sacrifices, anointings, phylacteries, and disfigured
faces is but chaff and without meaning. O my brothers! we must, from the
heart, have such a purity of mind and thought that our very bodies shall
become incarnations of divinity. A true revelation of the Spirit of Truth
is not vouchsafed unto the worldly‐wise and prudent, but to the childlike,
the poor in spirit, and the pure in heart. The heavenly germ is within;
but no man knoweth it, until it be quickened into life, when it bringeth
forth a witness of fruits,—love, joy, peace, and healing. I adjure you,
that as ye live unto the flesh or even after ceremonial traditions, ye
shall reap a Gehenna in yourselves and in your members. Ye say: ‘Behold we
have Abraham to our father;’ but ye are not his children unless ye show
forth his spirit.”
“Behold the blasphemer!” cried Saulus, interrupting. “He sets at naught
the religion of our fathers, and reviles the God of Israel! He slanders
the priests of the Temple, and makes light of the Circumcision! Away with
him!”
Saulus and his partisans rose up to lay hold of him; but in a moment
Serenus was surrounded by a body of defenders, who insisted that he should
be heard. The clamor increased until the chairman called upon a centurion,
who was in the midst, to order the tumult stayed. The Roman captain slowly
arose, and with an air of mingled dignity and disdain, commanded silence.
“By the gods of Cæsar! Young Hebrews, to your seats! Be ye circumcised or
uncircumcised, the Roman will have order, and save you from each other!
Silence! A cell in yonder Tower gapes for him who doth not heed! Now,
young disputant, finish thine oration!”
Victor Serenus still stood calmly in his place in the tribune, without a
trace, either of anger or fear, in his countenance. The noise was stilled,
and he resumed.
“Men of the assembly, and friends! The time is at hand for a proclamation
of righteousness. We declare that the cup of Pharisaical hypocrisy and
violence is filled to the full. The spirit of the prophets of Israel is
worm‐eaten and corrupted, and the ordinances of the Law have become a
stumbling‐block. I proclaim deliverance from the bondage and leadership of
blind guides. The Jewish economy must be rent in twain, and the true
separated from the false. I am persuaded that our worthy master, the
Rabban, discerns signs of reformation. I proclaim a new heaven and a new
earth; for old things will pass away. A judgment is nigh, and will not
long tarry. The God of the whole earth is to be worshipped by Jew and
Gentile alike. The religion of the Hebrew is to burst its bonds; for with
it must be mingled the best of the philosophy, mind, and ideals of the
Greek and other Gentile nations. The many shall become as one, through the
truth which sets men free. I feel the spirit of prophecy upon me, and have
been constrained to give it utterance.”
He involuntarily turned, and the maiden’s eyes were still radiantly
centred upon him.
He then took his seat.
The chairman arose, and beckoned for silence.
“The chief disputants having made their arguments, the discussion is now
open to others.”
But before the last words had fallen from his lips, Saulus was again upon
his feet.
“The pestilent Hellenist is a base traducer of the Chosen People.”
A tumult was again raised; and a score were on their feet speaking, or
beckoning for a chance to be heard.
“Away with the heretic!”
“Serenus is right!”
“Down with the Alexandrian!”
“Traitors to the Law of Moses!”
“The zealots are mad!”
“Take them to the valley of Gehenna!”
“Blasphemer of the holy prophets!”
“Great is Serenus! Defend him!”
“Kill him, and do God service,” cried Saulus.
Half a score of menacing fists were stretched out toward Serenus, while as
many more forcibly held them back. The noise of the tumult drew together a
great rabble.
The second outbreak had been so sudden that the centurion was taken by
surprise, but he again made himself heard.
“Dogs of Jews!” he cried, “I am minded to let ye devour one another as ye
deserve!”
But after a moment’s hesitation, he continued,—
“Rome will rule the circumcised, if they cannot rule themselves.”
Then calling upon two or three Roman soldiers, who were among the throng,
he gave command, pointing to Saulus,—
“_Take him to the Tower!_”
The rabble were awed and fell back; the partisans of Saulus melted away,
and he was seized, and hurried away to the Tower of Antonia.