SURROUNDED BY PRISON WALLS
“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,—
The eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhes with pain,
And dies among his worshippers.”
On the second evening after the stoning of Stephanos, the members of the
Inner Circle of the _Urim_ gathered in their room near the inn of the
Sheepmarket. As they passed one by one through the long passage into the
anteroom, and thence, as approved by the doorkeeper, through the narrow
portal into their secret rendezvous, an unwonted interest was manifest in
every face and feature. It was known that Saulus had been in consultation
with Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, his
kindred, and that plans for stirring events had been made, the particulars
of which were to be made known to them. The venerable Rabbi Abdiel was
present, as the special and honored guest of Saulus. It was an unwonted
occasion when any from without were admitted to a gathering of the Inner
Circle; but the desire of Saulus was sufficient, and besides, the Rabbi
was already known to many, not only as faithful, but as intensely zealous
for their contention.
When all were gathered, and the preliminary ritual had been performed, two
members escorted Saulus to the seat of the grand Dictator, and the Rabbi,
as his guest of honor, was seated upon his right. At a given signal all
arose, and with their peculiar mystic symbolism took anew the oath of
secrecy, in which the Rabbi joined. All then were seated, and Saulus arose
to give his report.
“Comrades of the Inner Circle! Warders of the mysteries of Israel! Chosen
of the Chosen People! A serpent hath crawled into our midst, and made his
nest in the Holy City. We are to crush his head. Behold this day I have
counselled with the chief priests and elders, and have received authority
to bind all blasphemers, put them in prison, and scourge or stone them, as
seemeth expedient unto me. The Roman Procurator hath given the Sanhedrin
full power to deal with all matters pertaining to our religion, and will
in no wise hinder the punishment that may be meted out to the followers of
the Nazarene. We therefore bind ourselves to make havoc of all who are of
the Way, and to uproot this vile heresy, and the blasphemy of the Temple
and the Circumcision. Rise, comrades! defenders of our holy ordinances!
and swear by the sword of the Lord and of Gideon that we will scatter our
enemies and destroy them.”
All arose, and forming in line, marched slowly around the large circle,
each carrying a flagon containing a remnant of wine, the larger part
having before been drank at a given signal. Holding it aloft with the
right hand, and moving with a slow rhythm, they all joined in a weird
chant.
“The _Urim_ will conquer!
With valor well known,
The apostate will punish
With scourge, and by stone.
Saulus our captain
Shall lead in the fray,
We’ll follow his standard
By night and by day!
Ho! comrades, we swear
To crush every foe,
Not one will we spare,
To Gehenna they’ll go!”
Finally coming to a halt, and swinging their arms above their heads, they
repeated their oath with a shout, and again took their seats.
Saulus arose to speak further; but as he was about to open his lips, he
stared into vacancy above and before him, and was speechless. His gaze was
transfixed, his jaws parted, his cheeks blanched, and he forgot his
surroundings.
“Away! There—it—is—again!” ...
Gasping for breath, he sank into his seat, overcome by a spasm of fear. A
cold perspiration covered him, and he trembled in every limb.
“Our leader has fainted.”
There was a hurrying to relieve him, and to apply restoratives. But soon
he recovered, and again stood up.
“It was nothing, comrades! Of late I have had disquieting visions. Some
haunting demon would drive me from my chosen duty; but I hurl defiance at
him, and at all the demons and powers of darkness! Behold they but drive
me to more jealous and powerful action. I glory in persecution; for
slaughter of the enemies of the God of Israel is service to the Chosen
People.”
As he continued, his face grew dark, his jaws and fists were clinched, and
his gestures violent. He seemed to be fighting some unseen enemy which was
present and before him.
“Long live our worthy Dictator!”
“Woe to the enemies of the Temple!”
“The fate of Stephanos awaiteth them!”
“We will follow Saulus to the death!”
Such were some of the shouts that rent the air.
At length comparative quiet was restored, and plans were formed for an
attack upon the disciples of the New Faith on the morrow. It was known
that they assembled in the Upper Chamber every morning at the third hour.
It would be easy to gather a rabble to do their bidding if they needed
aid. They were just about to separate, when a sudden tremor passed over
the frame of Rabbi Abdiel. His features grew rigid, his muscles tense, and
he began muttering incoherent words.
“He hath a trance, as he is sometimes wont,” exclaimed Saulus.
“Peradventure a lying spirit possesseth his lips, for his prophecy is
always evil concerning us.”
All had gathered about the Rabbi, who now began to speak more clearly, and
in a loud voice.
“Members of the _Urim_! Deceivers and deceived! Hypocrites and vipers! Ye
are fighting against the God of all the earth and his devoted servants!
The cup of your iniquity is overflowing! Your elders and co‐workers have
slain the Chosen One,—the most righteous of all the sons of men! His
kingdom will increase forever, while yours will soon be shattered! Your
Dictator will be his chief apostle, and ye will persecute him from city to
city!”
The tumult became so great that nothing more could be heard. Some were
almost ready to smite him, but it was plainly evident that he knew not
what he had been saying. Another tremor; then his frame relaxed. He was
again himself, and astonished to see that all were gathered about him.
“Down with our enemies of the New Faith!” he cried, showing that when
himself he was in earnest accord with the spirit of the Inner Circle.
The Rabban Gamaliel was astounded at the action of the Sanhedrin in the
case of Stephanos. As the head of the most noted training school in
Jerusalem, where Hebrew youth were transformed into teachers and Rabbis,
his influence with the chief priests and elders was ordinarily undoubted.
But against the wave of fanaticism and persecution which was now surging
through the Holy City, he felt himself utterly powerless. While thoroughly
loyal to the Chosen People, he, with a few of the more liberal Pharisees,
had faithfully striven to stem the tide, calm the fierce and turbulent
spirit, and prevent any physical violence toward the members of the New
Faith. While he detested their doctrines, believed them to be the victims
of delusion, and ridiculed the claims of the Nazarene as put forth by his
disciples, he also counselled forbearance, and believed that such
superstition would soon wear itself out, and come to naught if let alone.
His advice was entirely unheeded. The worst passions of the Sanhedrin,
their followers, and the rabble were aflame, and logic and lore availed
nothing. The stoning of Stephanos had been like the scent of fresh blood
to a wolf.
The study of great psychological waves which sometimes roll over a
community, and even a nation, is most interesting and instructive. A vast
pent‐up mass of human passion, perhaps long in accumulating, like the lava
of a volcano, will occasionally find some outlet, and all pour out in that
particular direction. It is thus that riots, mobs, revolutions, and wars
originate. Like some strange epidemic they steal in, and gather momentum
until they sweep everything before them. War between nations, which often
comes from religious prejudice, is simply brute force and animal ferocity
exercised on a colossal scale. There is no tiger more cruel than
intolerant fanaticism, and the murder of Stephanos was like the unchaining
of such a beast. It was the starting‐point of a contagion of insanity, and
Saulus was the fittest leader in which it found embodiment. Under the
general support and sanction of the Sanhedrin, he became for the time
commander, and directed its forces.
Early on the second morning after the notable tragedy, the Rabban Gamaliel
sat in his private library in a meditative mood. The piles of inscribed
parchments, and numerous shelves loaded with rolls of manuscripts rich
with Hebrew lore, were undisturbed. The law, psalms, and prophets, the
Mishna, Gemra, Hagada, and Halacha, which contained the treasures of
Jewish scholasticism, and the archives of ancient polity and literature,
had no attraction. It was the problems of the present which were pressing
upon the Rabban. Never had he felt so powerless and so unreconciled to
events. Not only the Holy City, but his own household, seemed rent in
twain. His former impetuous young student and disciple had suddenly
blossomed into the Hebrew leader of affairs in Jerusalem, while his own
influence had gone into a total eclipse. His beautiful and idolized
daughter had bestowed the wealth of her warm youthful affection upon an
avowed apostate. Even the thought subtly intruded itself, that it would
have been more tolerable if her recent illness had been unto death; and he
pictured to himself the possible resignation which would now possess him
if her fair form were already sleeping in the quiet sepulchre. He bowed
his head in agony as a chaos of conflicting emotions agitated his soul,
and groaned aloud, and wept as a child might weep. All the fame, success,
and usefulness of his past life was a hollow dream. His vaunted wisdom in
the eyes of the Holy City had turned to ashes. Worse than all, it even had
become foolishness to his own flesh and blood.
At length he aroused himself as if he had arrived at some important and
final decision. Honor, reputation, position, and religion must be
maintained, even at the expense of family ties and affection. Shall not a
man rule his own house? Putting his emotion under foot, and stifling the
softened feeling which had possessed him, his features became hard and
unyielding, and his lips tightly closed. He signalled a waiting‐maid.
“Find Amabel, and say that I would see her.”
The young woman entered with a light though dignified step, and seated
herself by her father’s side. She at once divined something unusual in his
manner, and instinctively felt that an ordeal was impending.
“Dear father, thou didst send for me. How can I serve thee?”
“Amabel! always hast thou been a dutiful and loving child, and it now lies
in thy power to relieve me of a load which is too heavy to be borne. When
I bring the whole matter before thee, I am persuaded that thou wilt have
respect unto my wishes.”
“Thou knowest well, O my father! that mine affection for thee is great,
and if thy request be not against my duty and freedom, I will gladly
render obedience.”
Just for a moment the Rabban wavered in the resolution which he had
declared should be inflexible; for he had a distinct foreboding of a great
trial, and of the magnitude of the sacrifice that he was about to ask of
his well‐beloved daughter. Be still, heart! The issue _must_ be met!
“O my daughter! I beseech thee to be soberly mindful of the thing whereof
I shall speak unto thee. I pray that thou wilt make a sacrifice for the
sake of thy father. My honor, reputation, office, and religion are in the
balance. Amabel! I ask thee to renounce all thought of a future alliance
with Victor Serenus, and that thou promise to see him no more.”
The cheeks of Amabel visibly faded and her heart‐beat quickened, but she
maintained a good degree of calmness and self‐command. She looked
inquiringly into her father’s face, and read the stern purpose of an
inflexible will. She instinctively felt that the crisis of her life had
come. There passed a few moments of silence, though they were not required
for her to make her decision.
“O my father! I love thee, and it is like plucking out the right eye to
say thee nay; but nevertheless, I cannot comply with thy request.”
“Amabel! mark well the issue! The Holy City is aroused. My plea for the
toleration of the new heresy hath already cost me my honor and reputation.
My wisdom is scoffed at; and the leader of the time is no other than my
former young disciple, Saulus of Tarsus. A wild and cruel spirit hath
possessed the people, and the Sanhedrin is in full agreement. While I
bewail the zeal of our people, which is not according to knowledge, and
believe that its madness will soon pass by, I must bow before a storm
which I cannot withstand. Even before this commotion an alliance of the
family of the Rabban Gamaliel with the deluded Serenus would have been
intolerable, _now_ it would be fatal!”
“O my father! I am mindful of all thou sayest; but I have promised to be
the wife of Serenus, and nothing but death can separate us. His religion
is my religion, and his God my God. There is no other young man among the
Chosen People that is worthy to be compared with him in honor and virtue.”
“Even though he hath a goodly spirit in himself, he hath cast in his lot
among the despised and deluded followers of the false prophet, and will
peradventure share their fate. Persecution, scourging, imprisonment, and
perhaps stoning, await this fanatical sect; and this I cannot prevent if I
would. Now, hearken! Wilt thou foolishly hold on to this base alliance
with an outlaw and heretic, disgraced, and peradventure to be put to
death, or remain in thy father’s house, with esteem and affection, and the
respect of all the most honorable and learned people of the Holy City?”
“Nay, I will suffer dishonor, persecution, and even death if need be, for
truth, righteousness, and Victor Serenus. Worldly honor doth not tempt me.
The prophet of Nazareth, whom our people cruelly slew, was filled with the
spirit of the true God. His followers have the same mind, as manifested by
their works; and nothing can quench their spiritual fervor, their kindly
ministrations, and their abounding love toward all, even their enemies.”
“Daughter of Gamaliel! thou art altogether mad! Choose thou this day, yea,
this hour, between thy father’s house, with thy high station and all that
therewith belongeth, and the reproach of being an outcast, and sharing the
ignominious lot of the sect of the Nazarene. The honor of Gamaliel shall
not be entirely lost, and his word is law! I have finished!”
There was no alternative.
Amabel arose from her seat, threw her arms around her father’s neck, and
kissed him warmly upon the forehead, and then quietly turned and left him.
Hastily putting on a light outside garment and hat, she left the palace,
passed down the hill of Zion, and made her way to the Upper Chamber. It
was a little after the third hour, and the disciples had just gathered.
There was a goodly company of men and women, as was wont, and words of
gladness and praise abounded. Even the fate of Stephanos, and the prospect
of a general persecution, did not seem to disquiet them. But they were
unaware of the intensity of the storm that was just ready to burst, and
that they were like sheep in the midst of wolves. The spirit of love shone
through their faces, and many in the Holy City had been blessed by their
ministry and service, healed of divers diseases, and released from bonds
which had vexed them for years. Serenus was there, and had just arisen to
address them. Barnabas and Peter and John were also among them. Barnabas
had been drawn to the New Faith through the preaching of Peter, and was
already one of the most devoted among the disciples. He had ended his
sojourn at the Sheepmarket, and now made his abode with Serenus.
Amabel quietly entered. No one present knew her except Serenus, who
marvelled at her sudden appearance. While aware that the new light had
been kindled within her, and that she greatly rejoiced, he had entertained
no expectation that she would openly identify herself with the despised
people. Her exquisite grace and beauty, with the fact that she was an
unwonted visitor, turned the attention of many towards her; but after a
quick, tender glance at Serenus, she cast her large lustrous eyes
downward, and closed them with a calm devotion, as she sank into her seat
among the women of the assembly. The soul of Serenus was stirred within
him as he began speaking to the little flock.
“Brethren and sisters of the New Faith! It doth appear unto all of you
that troublous times are at hand, and that we are encompassed by those who
falsely think that we are their enemies. Even the power of God which hath
been bestowed upon us, and the wonderful works and ministry which have
been made manifest through us, are turned against our people and made an
offence. The Sadducean enmity of the Sanhedrin is bitter toward us; and
the voice of Saulus, the leader of the persecution, is hot for our
destruction. Behold ye have become a ‘rock of stumbling’ unto both the
Pharisees and Sadducees. But I say unto you, be ye not dismayed, even
though all things seem against you. The Man of Gallilee hath said,—
“‘Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you and persecute you, and say
all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake;’ and again, ‘Blessed
are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.’ Again he declared, ‘Behold the kingdom of heaven
is within you.’ It is here. If persecution rage without, and ye have
harmony, peace, and love within, behold it abideth in you. As the spirit
of Christ was manifested through Jesus of Nazareth, so may it fill us to
overflowing. The things which he did ye may do also. We have the Truth,
and the Truth maketh free; yea, though prison‐walls surround us, and
revilings, and even scourgings, be visited upon us, freedom abideth.
Behold liberty is of the soul, and pertaineth not to the body. We are not
in bondage to the flesh, for it profiteth not. Not that we have aught
against it in itself, for in subjection it may render honorable service.
We love all men, and resist not evil. The triumph of violence is but for a
moment, while truth and righteousness are as eternal as the reign of God.
The world knoweth not the mystery of evil, nor how resistance maketh it to
increase. Love is finally victorious, because it thinketh no evil. God
worketh not with observation, but in you, to will and to do. Thence cometh
the victory! A man’s real foes must be they of his own household, for
nothing can truly harm him but his own base and mistaken thoughts.”
The address of Serenus was followed by spontaneous testimonies,
prophecies, and spiritual affirmations, as each was inspired to give
utterance, and all opened their souls to the Spirit of Truth. Then
followed a period of stillness, during which each one lifted his mind to
Christly ideals, and sent out loving and healing thoughts to all, not
forgetting even those who were plotting against them. The silence
continued until spiritual ecstasy prevailed, and aspiration and soul‐
communion lifted them to a state of consciousness where things of the seen
and outward life seemed distant, and rested but lightly upon them. The
calumnies and revilings concerning them which filled the Holy City were as
nothing; for they were now in a heavenly frame made up of love, good‐will,
spiritual vigor, and harmony.
At length the profound stillness was broken by a discordant hum in the
distance. The cruel persecutors were upon their track.
The noise gradually came nearer, and soon resolved itself into chaotic
vibrations of yells, commands, shrieks, and imprecations. Then a single
stone was followed by a volley, which crashed upon the roof, sides, and
windows of the Upper Chamber.
“Fear not the wrath of man!” said Serenus.
Then the little band chanted selections from the Psalms of David:—
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains:
From whence shall my help come?
The Lord is thy keeper:
The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from all evil;
He shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in,
From this time forth and for evermore.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
For his mercy endureth forever.”
The mob rapidly approached. A small man with a strong rod in his hand was
slightly in advance, making violent gestures, and giving loud commands. It
was Saulus. Clustered about him were about two score of the members of the
Inner Circle, and these were followed by a great rabble from the worst
streets and lanes of the city.
The moments dragged slowly to the little band, for they instinctively took
in the whole situation. After finishing the chants, the assembly was
dismissed. No one tried to escape. Even if attempted it would have been
impossible, for the house was entirely surrounded. They gathered in little
groups, and friend encouraged friend.
Serenus was already by Amabel’s side.
“Beloved! How camest thou here in such a time as this?”
“O Serenus! my father hath commanded me to renounce thee and the New
Faith, or leave his house. Behold my choice!”
“Amabel! thou hast given up all for me!”
“Nay! say rather for my soul’s freedom!”
“Daughter of Gamaliel, and Light of my soul! I am powerless to protect
thee from the persecutors that are at the door. But have faith in God! All
things will work together for good. Doubt not!”
“I have no fear! Peace, love, and courage possess my soul.”
The tramp of the fierce host as it burst up the stairways was like the
noise of thunder.
With glaring eyes and panting breath Saulus bounded into the room, closely
followed by his comrades, with the mob at their heels. Not one of the
assembly raised a hand in defence.
The utter peacefulness and non‐resistance of the little band was so
strange that for a moment Saulus was astounded. He had expected a strong
fight, or at least a desperate attempt to escape, but found neither. But
in a moment he regained command of himself, and there was no wavering in
his purpose.
“Heretics and blasphemers!” he cried. “We have caught you in the very
exercise of your seditious and profane worship, and ye yourselves are
witnesses to your own criminality. I have full authority, as a loyal
Hebrew, to mete out punishment to every one of you, men and women, and to
crush this mockery of our holy religion. Ha! a little trial by scourging,
and some acquaintance with stocks and prisons, will restore your minds.
And if these fail, I wot that the treatment administered to Stephanos will
be found effectual.”
Up to this time he had not noticed that Serenus was among them, but as he
beheld his old opponent he had special delight.
“Ha! Serenus! thou hast found thy true belonging. I have thee in my power,
and thy traitorous apostasy shall reap its full reward.”
Then, turning to his prisoners in general, he continued,—
“If any of you will blaspheme Jesus, and abjure and curse the New Faith,
peradventure we may release such with the warning of a few stripes.”
No one responded.
“Forward, comrades, and escort them to prison!”
Before the sixth hour of the day, every one, including Serenus and Amabel,
were surrounded by prison walls.