"WHOSE WE ARE AND WHOM WE SERVE.
"May I advise, my lord, that these men be at once apprehended and
brought hither?" The voice was that of Saul of Tarsus; he had arisen in
his place, and the eyes of all were fixed upon him. "We shall then be
able to examine them of the truth of this man's statements. It would
seem most necessary that our prisons be made secure, since I opine that
we shall have need of them before we have seen an end to this matter."
"It is well said," murmured several who were high in authority, "let
them be fetched with all speed; we will not go hence until we have seen
them."
So Annas commanded the officers, "Fetch hither the men, but without show
of violence, for they have a great following among the people. A
popular enthusiasm," he added, "when bred at the wrong moment and on the
wrong subject, is most disastrous; though what it may accomplish when
properly directed, those of you who were in the city at the time of the
execution of the man from Galilee will remember. The populace must be
with us now as they were then."
Caleb therefore with a chosen few of his men sought the temple; and
there they found a great multitude assembled in Solomon's porch,
listening to the apostles who spoke to them of Jesus, the crucified
carpenter of Galilee. Him they declared boldly to be the Prince of
Israel; assuring the people that though he had been rejected by them and
cruelly slain, yet was he able to save them from out the sin and misery
of their present lives, and furthermore give them everlasting life in
place of death. So that for them that believed there was now no further
terror in the grave, since he had promised and was able to raise their
corrupt bodies into the likeness of his own glorious body. And all the
people heard their words with joy; and they cried aloud to the Crucified
One to forgive them their sins and to remember his promises to them
also.
When the chief captain of the temple police was seen to approach
stealthily, a man whose long, silvery beard descended upon his breast,
and in whose eyes burned the fire of desert suns cried out: "Seest thou
these men? They are even as the leopard of the mountain which steals
upon his prey unaware. Look to it now that they do the men of God no
violence!"
And the people answered with a great shout, "Let us stone them
forthwith; if they be dead they will trouble us no more!" And Caleb
feared exceedingly lest they should lay hands upon him; but being a
discreet man and in pursuit of his duty furthermore, he made a bold
stand before them.
"Ye men of Israel," he cried, "there is no violence intended these men,
if they will but come with me peaceably. The council and senate of the
people of Israel would hear them of these matters whereof they are now
preaching, and for this purpose have they even now assembled themselves
together. Let the apostles go, I pray ye, that those in high places may
also receive the Gospel." This he said, not because he himself
believed, but because he was a man of wisdom, and knew that unless he
could placate the multitude, great harm might come not only to himself
but to the senate also.
"Should these men once accuse the chief priests of the murder of the
Nazarene," he said within himself, "the mob would immediately hale them
forth from the council chamber and tear them limb from limb." And for a
moment he was half minded to send word to the citadel asking for a
detachment of Roman soldiers, but he bethought himself that this would
only betray his fear. So he again spoke, and this time in the ear of
Peter.
"I beseech thee, good Rabbi," he said, with apparent humility, "that
thou wilt appease the people, since thou art obeyed of them; and I,
despite mine office, have no authority at all over them."
"Call not thou me good, who denied the Lord of Glory," answered Peter.
"I will go with thee." Then he beckoned with his hand unto the
multitude that they should pay him heed, and when they were silent,
expecting that he would command them concerning the officers, he said:
"Ye men of Israel, this Jesus, whom we preach unto you, while he was yet
alive, commanded that they which would follow him should do no evil to
any man. Yea, he declared that if a man should smite his neighbor on the
cheek, that the smitten one should also suffer his enemy to smite again
without resistance or anger; and when, on the night before his death,
the chief priests sent a company of men armed with swords and staves for
to seize him, I was filled with indignation and smote the high priest's
servant with the sword, so that his ear was severed from his head; but
the Lord rebuked me, and bade me put up my sword into its place, then he
reached forth his hand and touched the wounded man and healed him.
Furthermore, ye remember how that afterward, when he was mocked and
scourged and spit upon by his enemies, he opened not his mouth with
revilings, but bore all with patience, though there remained within his
call more than twelve legions of angels, armed with the fiery swords of
heaven. If then ye would follow him on whom ye have believed, give
place to wrath and conduct yourselves peaceably. For ye may have
confidence that the Lord Christ, whose we are and whom we serve, will
not suffer us to be tried above that we can bear, but will with the
necessity provide a way of escape."
And when the people heard these words, they suffered the apostles to go
away with the officers. But Ben Hesed, and with him others of them that
were strong-hearted, followed hard after, and waited near the door of
the council chamber.
"For," said Ben Hesed grimly, "it is also written concerning the Lord,
'With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the froward
thou wilt show thyself froward. The Lord will save the afflicted
people, but he will bring down high looks,' and further, 'He teacheth my
hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms; I have
pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them, neither did I turn again till
they were consumed.'"
And when Caleb perceived that the men were even at the doors, he wrote
upon a tablet, saying: "Be discreet, I pray thee, in thy dealings with
these apostles, for there be them without which are able to make of thee
and of all that are within, even as the small dust of the balance." And
this he caused to be given to Annas privily.
When Annas had read these words, his heart burned like a live coal
within him. Yet was his brow calm and unruffled as he fixed his keen
eyes on the men who stood humbly enough in the presence of that imposing
assembly. "Again hath it become necessary to rebuke you openly because
of your blasphemous conduct. Stiff-necked and ignorant fishermen, how
is it that ye do thus persist in doing the things which work only for
unrighteousness? Did not we straightly command you that ye should not
teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your
doctrine, and intend to bring the blood of the slain Nazarene upon us."
"We ought to obey God rather than man," affirmed Peter simply.
Annas trembled with his pent up anger, but he still spoke with calmness.
"This have ye before declared as the reason and excuse of your
disobedience to this most holy council of the People of Israel. Dost
thou think then that the God of our fathers speaks no longer save to
fisher folk, publicans and malefactors? Nay, for upon us doth rest the
power of God and the wisdom of God; in that we would defend from
scurrilous and wicked hands the faith which we have kept unsullied from
the days of our father Abraham even until now."
"We have but one answer to make to this," said John, looking squarely
into the furious eyes of the man who had spoken, "and it is this. The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour,
that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we
are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom
God hath given to them that obey him."
"Hearest thou these sayings?" cried Annas, starting to his feet. "What
is this else but foul blasphemy? It is poison of this kind that these
fellows spread industriously amongst the people day by day. The
Nazarene, a prince and saviour forsooth, and we his murderers! If the
people once come to believe this, what shall come to pass? We shall be
overthrown and the whole nation given over to blasphemy and idolatry."
"We shall be doing God service if we immediately put these to death,"
said Jochanan. "It must needs be done, the public weal demands it."
"I am of the same mind," exclaimed Alexander.
"And I--and I!" shouted half a score of voices.
"Let them be stoned!"
"Give them over to the Romans!"
"I beseech your indulgence, my good lords!" interrupted a grave deep
voice from the inner circle of the assembly, "that ye may grant a brief
hearing to one, who because he is still somewhat unfamiliar with these
new doctrines, perchance looks upon them from a slightly different
standpoint from those of you who have patiently borne the heat and
burden of the day."
"Gamaliel! Gamaliel!" cried several voices. "Let us hear what he hath
to say."
The speaker was a man of powerful physique, and of calm and dignified
bearing. As he looked keenly about over the excited assemblage with an
air of conscious authority, every eye was fixed upon him with grave
attention. "May I request," he continued when the tumult of excited
voices had died away into silence, "that the persons under discussion be
put forth for a little space."
This command being obeyed with alacrity by the underlings of Caleb, the
speaker resumed in a deep measured voice. "As I have listened to the
sayings of these men," he said, "my mind hath sought the past, for it is
in the experiences of years gone by that man hath ever found the best
council for the exigencies of the present. To adopt excessive measures
for the disruption of this new sect would, in my opinion, be not only
unwise in the present disturbed state of the populace, but actually
dangerous. I have mingled with the multitude and I know that whereof I
speak; therefore take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as
touching these men. Turning, as I have suggested, to the annals of the
past, we find that before these days there rose up a certain Theudas,
boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four
hundred, joined themselves. After a time he was slain in a brawl, and
all who believed on him were speedily scattered and brought to naught.
Again, somewhat later appeared Judas, a Galilean, in the days of the
taxing, and drew away much people after him; he also perished, and those
who had obeyed him were dispersed. So now I say unto you, refrain from
these men and let them alone, for if this preaching and healing which
they do be of men it will speedily come to naught. But if, on the other
hand, it be of God, ye cannot overthow it, lest haply ye be found to
fight against God."
A deep murmur of approval followed these words, after which a number of
the more influential ones expressed themselves as in favor of adopting
the safe and conservative course recommended by the wise doctor of the
laws who had spoken.
Presently, when all had been said, Annas arose and looked about him. In
the hush that followed, the tumult of the surging multitudes without
could be distinctly heard.
"Though I believe that these men and their works are neither of man nor
of God, but of the devil," he began, his voice shaking with suppressed
excitement, "yet is the devil ever watchful of his own, and the populace
are not to be trifled with at the present moment; therefore do I agree
with the worshipful Gamaliel in thinking that the safe course for
ourselves and for the cause which we serve will be, as he hath
suggested, to let the men be for the present. I am not without hope of
interesting Herod in the matter. Let it come to his ears once that
these fellows are preaching to the people that their Master is shortly
coming back to establish his throne in Jerusalem--as I can bring
witnesses to testify--and he will speedily take care of them that say
such things. I will therefore command that the men be scourged in our
presence, which may prove a wholesome corrective to their mistaken zeal;
after that they shall be released."
This accordingly was done, the dignitaries looking on calmly whilst the
scourging was administered by the underlings of the temple police.
When the sickening sound of the blows had at length ceased, Annas again
spoke. "There is somewhat that ye have still to answer for," he said.
"How is it that ye made good your escape from the prison? These your
guards declare that they stood continually before the doors from the
evening when ye were incarcerated even until the morning."
The face of John glowed with a celestial light. "The angel of the Lord,
whose we are and whom we serve, came and fetched us out, and the eyes of
the keepers were holden that they wist not when we went by them."
Annas eyed the speaker with a mocking smile. "How is it," he said
slowly, his eyes lingering with manifest satisfaction upon the crimson
marks of the scourging, "that he who delivered fhee from the prison
house, was not able also to deliver thee from the hands of them that
beat thee?"
"We were delivered from the prison that we might speak to the people of
him who is able to save them from their sins," answered John. Then he
also smiled, but it was as an angel might have smiled, on whom the King
immortal, invisible, had conferred some high and heavenly boon. "The
servant is not above his Lord," he said, "and if we suffer with him, we
shall also reign with him; he hath gone to prepare a place for us, that
where he is, there we may be also."
Then Annas rose in his wrath. "Let what ye have received at our hands
serve to remind you that ye are forbidden to speak the name of the
crucified Galilean in Jerusalem. Further disobedience shall meet with a
punishment to which this shall be as nothing." Then were the apostles
thrust out from the council chamber; and they departed, rejoicing
greatly that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And
daily in the temple and in every house where dwelt them that believed,
they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.