Saul of Tarsus: A Tale of the Early Christians

by Elizabeth Miller

  CHAPTER XII

  SCATTERING THE FLOCK

  They were in a single large chamber, rough, barren and barn-like. Thegray drapery of cob-webs was sown with chaff; there was the fresh smellof grain with the mustiness of dust contending for prominence; thefloor was dry packed earth that had not tasted rain for a century.High above the few resin torches burning on the walls, huge cedar beamstraversed the ceiling which was tight, that no moisture nor theconsuming rays of the sun should enter. It was an abandoned grainhouse, builded just without the reach of the highest storm-wave on thewater-front.

  There were two or three benches, but not seating capacity for thenumber gathered there. So the youths, women and children sat on theearth along the walls and left the benches to the older men of theassembly.

  Marsyas glanced at the gathering. He saw there not one, but manyraces, however Jewish in predominance. In most of the number he founda common expression, which made him think. It was a certaindelineation of fortitude, a brave patience that does not forswearpersistence, however seriously the heart fears. In others, there werecuriosity and expectation; in still others, apprehension and suspicion.These, he noted, seemed not to wear that look of uplift; intuitively,he knew them to be investigators, more or less convinced, at themoment. Others, he saw, came with bundles of belongings as if preparedfor a journey.

  Eleazar selected a place by the door and signing to Marsyas that hewould sit and await the young Essene's will, dropped down on the packedearth, and, drawing up his powerful limbs, clasped his arms aroundthem. The torch above his head threw the shadow of his projectingkerchief over his face and hid his features.

  There was space between him and the next sitter, a young woman wearingthe dress of a Jewish matron. She glanced uneasily at the hugestranger and drew closer to a man of her own age, on the other side.Marsyas, seized with a new interest, sat down between the rabbi and thewoman.

  At the farther end of the building a man arose. He had a pilgrim'sscrip at his side; he put away a staff as he gained his feet, and theheightened color of the brown on his cheek-bones and his nose showedthat he had but recently come from a long journey.

  He raised his arms over the assembly, and each of those gathered therebowed his head and clasped his hands.

  "O patient Bearer of the Cross," he prayed, "let us not faint thussoon--we who are driven on! Let Thy footsteps be illumined that we maygo Thy way, even though they lead unto Calvary! Teach us Thysubmission, quicken us with Thy love, clothe us with Thy charity, thatthey who oppress us may see that submission is stronger than rebellion,that love is more enduring than hate, that charity is broad enough forour enemies. And if it be Thy will that we should love the spoiler ofThy Church and the destroyer of Thy saints, teach us then to love thatenemy!"

  This of a surety was not what Marsyas had expected to hear.Undoubtedly the praying man spoke of Saul. The prayer continued.

  "Lo, Thou hast tarried thus long away from us, and evil alreadygathereth thick about Thy people. In those days, when we asked andwere answered, voice unto voice, we did not grope. Now, O Lord, we askand there answers but the speech of faith left in us, and that ingrievous hours--doth not bid the cup to pass from us!"

  Marsyas' chin sank on his breast; somehow the faltering sentences fellon some keenly sensitive spot in his soul, for in spirit he winced, andlistened intently, in spite of himself.

  "Yet, judge us not as wavering, O Lord; we but miss Thee from our side,who loved Thee, O Christ!"

  The sentence ceased suddenly at the edge of a break in the voice. Itseemed that human sorrow had broken in on an inspiration, and the soundof a sob arose here and there from the bowed circle of Nazarenes.

  Marsyas suddenly saw the dark trampled space without Hanaleel, thefalling night, the still figure of Stephen stretched on the sand, thethree humble mourners who of all Jerusalem were not afraid to sorrowfor him, and the young Essene choked back a cry to the praying man,

  "I know thy pain, brother!"

  For that instant bond of sorrow it did not matter that, according toMarsyas' lights, the praying man blasphemed and besought another thanthe one Lord God as divinity. The Nazarene had loved a friend and losthim from his side; the voice had ceased and, in place of the warmcontent, only agony and emptiness abode in the heart.

  "Show us Thy will; let us see and we shall follow; above all thingsquicken our ears that Thy loved voice may still be sweet in them acrossthe boundaries of Death and through the darkness which embraceth ourheads. Lo, Thou art with us alway even unto the end, we believe, webelieve!"

  There was too much human suffering, self-examination and beseeching inthe prayer for it to help any who heard it. It was not like Stephen'sprayers, which had seized upon Marsyas' spirit because of theirunshaken confidence and beatification, and had terrified him, asassaults upon his steadfastness. In those moments, he had been afraidof the Nazarene heresy; now, he was stirred to pity for the heretics.The sensation added to his resolution against Saul.

  Another voice roused him, by reason of its difference from that of thefirst speaker. It was not loud, but it carried and penetrated everydusty corner of the great space, with the strength and evenness of asounded horn. The temper as well as the quality was different; it wastriumphant, eager, glad.

  "It is the hour of fulfilment, beloved; the accomplishment of theprophecy, for by persecution shall we who are witnesses to the truth bescattered into all the world that the gospel may come unto everycreature. The flesh in us which crieth out and feareth death shall bethe instrument whereby fleeing to save ourselves we shall go quickenedinto distant lands and testify. Wherefore let not any soul lament thisday nor denounce the circumstance which sendeth him into strange placesand unto the Gentile. Ye were not charged to save your flesh but tosave your souls. And whosoever saveth his soul hath Christ in hisbosom and Christ on his tongue; wherefore the Redeemer is not dead andburied, nor even passed from among you, but living and preachingnumerously, by many tongues. Doubt not ye shall have your Gethsemaneand your Calvary, yet likewise ye shall arise from the dead and enterinto Paradise. The oppressor shall persecute, the rod hang over you,the Cross be set up, but though ye go forth unweaponed ye shall levelwalls and throw down tyrants by the power of love; ye shall conductpeace and mercy through the flights ye make from oppression, and Lifeeverlasting shall begin where your hour is accomplished and ye die.

  "If there be any among you who are timid in flesh that say in theirsouls, 'Let us find a secure place and live secretly and in godlinessaway from the abominations of the wicked,' verily I say unto such, ifthe world were precious enough unto the Son of God that He suffereddeath to save it, it is not too evil for the habitation of them whowere in sin and ransomed by His sacrifice.

  "If there be those among you given to wrath and vengeance who shallsay, 'Let us fall upon the oppressor and put him to death,' verily Isay unto such if the Son of God, who was despised and rejected of men,who raised the dead and cleansed lepers, directed not His powers topunishment and havoc, how shall ye, who are but lately lifted out ofsin and damnation?

  "Ye are ministers of peace and love and humility. Go forth and testifyto these things in His name, and I who stand before you, elected of Himwhom ye follow to speak His word, I say unto you that if ye testifyfaithfully, no persecutor shall triumph over you, no power shalloverthrow you, no evil shall prevail against your souls!"

  This was not the spirit Marsyas would select to aid him in hispunishment of Saul; it was an alien doctrine opposed to nature; but hedid not doubt the preacher's sincerity. His utterances were notstrange to the ears that had listened with such fear to Stephen. Butit seemed that one in the assembly was not satisfied.

  "Yet the saints perish by the persecutor," the man spoke. "BeholdStephen is martyred already in Jesus' name."

  Marsyas' eyes sought out the speaker; he was one of the unconvinced whosat apart and had become perplexed.

  "O my brother, when was it said unto thee by the teachers of Christthat death
is the end? I saw Christ on the cross; on the third day Isaw Him living in the council of the apostles. The powers of evilpursued Him only to the tomb; there began the dominion of God, and Heascended unto Heaven and to eternal life. Believest thou this? Thyface sayeth me 'yea'; is it not written that they who believe on Himshall share each and all of His blessings? Wherefore, though Stephendied, he liveth triumphant over his enemies; so shall ye, who arefaithful unto the end."

  "But--but," the man objected, troubled, "is the Church to perish, thus,one by one? If we die in this generation, who shall gather the harvestof the Lord?"

  "'Whoso would save his life shall lose it,' said the Master. Is itpart of faith to fear that evil will triumph? Wilt thou hold off Lifeeternal that thou mayest bide a little longer in such insecurity asthis life? And I tell thee that the fear of the adversary is awakened,and the strength of his forces is aroused. We measure by his rageagainst the elect his fear of Christ prevailing. No man leadeth forthan army with banners against that which is weak and which he fears not.Jesus, on whom thou believest, said, 'I have overcome the world.' Knowthen that the Church can not perish; that the persecutor ragethfutilely; that the oppressor fighteth against the Lord. Doubt nolonger, lest thy doubt become a fear that an enemy shall overthrow God!"

  The young man who sat by the woman at Marsyas' side spoke next.

  "I am submissive, Rabbi; yet, how far shall we fly? I am thebridegroom of Cana at whose marriage the Lamb was. When He changedwater into wine He turned my heart into wondering, and from wonderinginto belief. But the sentence of wandering hath driven me out of Cana,out of Galilee, out of Judea into Syria. How far shall we flee, Rabbi?"

  "We, too, are driven," many broke in at once. "Few here are citizensof Ptolemais; we have left our homes and have fled far. How long mustwe go on?"

  "As far as God's creatures fare; as far as the Word hath notpenetrated," was the answer.

  The faces of many fell, tears stood in the eyes of others, and stillothers murmured wearily. The sun-browned pilgrim who had prayed andwho had leaned with a shoulder and his head against the wall, while theteacher spoke, raised himself.

  "My heart goeth out in pity for you," he said sorrowfully. "Behind youthe consuming fire, before you the overwhelming sea. I am newly comefrom Jerusalem; I know what awaits you if ye fly not. Even the Gentilecan not be worse than he who breathes out threatenings and slaughteragainst you, in the name of the Law. Fare forth; the world can not beworse; it may be kindlier."

  Marsyas observed this man; in him was more promising material for hiswork than in the preacher. But the preacher looked over thecongregation, by this time bowed and filled with distress.

  "It is your Gethsemane," he said, turning the pilgrim's declarationinto comfort, "but He sleepeth not while ye pray."

  Marsyas looked over the congregation and saw here and there strongfaces and bold, to whom the ordinance of submission must have been abitter ordinance. He arose.

  "I behold that this is a council, in which men may speak," he said. "Itake unto myself the privilege, as one akin to you in suffering if notin faith."

  His voice commanded by its Essenic calmness. Every eye turned towardhim. They saw the habiliments of a slave covering the stature anddignity of a doctor of Laws. The preacher looked interested, and thecongregation stirred toward the young man.

  "By the words of your teacher," he continued, "I see that ye aresummoned here to be banished. I see your reluctance; I know yoursorrow, for I, too, have been driven on, even by your enemy."

  "Who art thou, young friend?" the preacher asked.

  "I am an Essene."

  "An Essene!" many repeated, stirred into wonder at knowledge of the newapostleship.

  "As was John the Baptist!" one declared.

  "Nay, then;" a voice rose out of the comment, "thou shalt be kin to usin faith so thou acceptest Jesus of Nazareth."

  "Let us lay aside the discussion of doctrine, in which we can notagree," the young man went on, "and unite in our cause against Saul ofTarsus."

  The kindly eyes of the preacher became paternal as he gazed at thehardness growing in the young man's face.

  "Our cause," he said gently, "is not Saul of Tarsus, but Jesus Christ."

  "Are ye sincere in your boast that ye will not defend yourselves?"Marsyas demanded.

  "What need, young brother? God defends us."

  "Well enough; but what of the persecutor?"

  "God will overtake him."

  "When? When he hath desolated Israel, stained the holy judgment hallwith tortured perjury, slandered the Jews before the world as slayersof the innocent? Your talk is all of the life hereafter; I, too,expect to live again; yet I am here to come and go at God's will, notSaul's! Even ye, in all your infatuation, will not call Saul's workGod's work! I will not be driven and desolated by Abaddon!"

  He did not wait for the preacher, who seemed prepared to speak.

  "I was the friend of Stephen, of whom ye spoke with love to-night.Saul consented unto his death in spite of my prayers for him, andbefore I could save him. When I rebuked Saul for his bloody zeal hedenounced me as an apostate and set the Shoterim upon me so that I amobliged to flee for my life. For mine own wrongs I do not care, butthe blood of Stephen cries out to me, the spectacle of his death risesto me in my dreams, and the infamy of it fills my hours with anguish.Ye say he was one of your saints, a martyr in the name of your Prophet,a teacher and a power in your church. Ye claim that ye loved him. Yetye make timid preparation to flee before the oppressor who brought himlow, and lift no hand to avenge his death! Are ye men? Have ye lovesand hearts? Do ye miss him--"

  The pilgrim pressed his palms together and looked at the young man withpassionate grief in his eyes. Marsyas turned his words to him.

  "Was ever his touch laid upon you, warm with life and tender with goodwill? Did ever his eyes bless you with their light? Can ye take itidly that his hands grasp the dust and the tomb hath hidden his smile?"

  The pilgrim covered his face with his hands.

  "These be things that philosophy can not return to me!" Marsyas droveon. "I can not pray Stephen back to my side; I can not hope till hisvoice returns to my ear; I can not flee till I find him! And by theholy and the pure who have gone down into the grave before him, I knowthat ye can not! Is it no matter to you that his memory is held inscorn? Are ye not stabbed with doubts that he died in vain--even yewho believe thus firmly that he was right? And I, being a Jew and anupholder of the Law, can I be content, knowing he was cut off inheresy?"

  The congregation began to move as he went on; men rose from sitting totheir knees, as if prepared to spring to their feet. The preachercircled the room with a glance, but the eyes of the people were uponthe young man.

  "Your Prophet and my Stephen! And ye fly! There are certain of youthat are strong men, and Stephen was as delicate as a child. There isblood and temper and strength and numbers of you, but Stephen wentforth alone--and died! Where were ye? What of yourselves, now? Areye afraid of the weakling Pharisee?"

  There was a low murmur and men sprang to their feet, with flashing eyesand clenched hands. The pilgrim flung up his head and drew in hisbreath till it hissed over his bared teeth. Eleazar stood up by theyoung Essene and gazed straight at the preacher, as if holding himselfin check until the leader declared himself. But the preacher put uphis hands and hurried into the center of the building.

  "Peace, children!" he said kindly but firmly. His hands lifted higheras the stature of his authority seemed to tower over the people. Inthe sudden silence those that had stood up sank down again, the pilgrimlowered his head and only Marsyas and the rabbi at his side seemed toresist the quieting influence of the pastor. The extended palmsdropped and the Nazarene looked at the young Essene.

  "Vengeance is mine and I will repay, saith the Lord. Eye for an eyeand tooth for a tooth is of the old Law and is passed away!"

  "There, O strange pastor of a human flock, our ways part. I am a
Jew,thou a Nazarene--our laws differ. Yet if, as ye preach, the God ofMoses is also the God of your Prophet, ye are delivered sentences andpunishments for evil-doing. Wherefore, if ye evade them, ye evade adivine command!"

  "We do not punish; we correct. Punishment is God's portion."

  "Are ye not instruments?" the young man persisted.

  The preacher did not answer at once; his eyes searched Marsyas' facefor some expression by which he might select his line of argument.

  "Bethink thee, young brother," he said finally. "How would Stephenanswer thee in this?"

  Marsyas' demanding eyes wavered and fell; his lips parted and closedagain; he frowned.

  "Whom then wouldst thou please in this vengeance? Not Stephen! Thenwilt thou comfort thyself with bloody work, while the tomb standsbetween thee and Stephen's restraining hands?"

  Marsyas threw up his head defiantly, shaking off the influence of theargument.

  "Do ye in all truth follow the doctrine that bids you suffer withoutrequital?" he demanded, even while feeling that his logic was impotent.

  "God directs all things; if it be His will that we shall suffer orescape, God's will be done!"

  "It is cowardly!" Marsyas declared with flashing eyes.

  The preacher came closer. "I believe that thou art determined andsincere. Suppose Saul fell into thy hands, as an evil-doer, and theLaw was ready for his blood, and God bade thee withhold thy hand.Would it be easy?"

  "No, by my soul!"

  "Look then at me and answer. Is it easy for me, who hath sufferedexactly thy sorrows, to stand still and wait on God?"

  Marsyas looked at the preacher. He was tall, spare and old, his hairand his beard were so white that they shone in the torch-light, and hisface was so thin and colorless that he seemed already to have put offthe flesh. But his eyes glowed with fire and youth. Here of a suretywas no weakness to call into account.

  "No," he answered again.

  "Then, O my son, which of us is truly subject to the Lord?"

  "Ye crucify yourselves to an unnatural doctrine! It is not human tobow to it!"

  "When thou canst do as we strive to do, my son, thou shall know that itis divine."

  Marsyas looked at Eleazar, and the rabbi, who had his eyes fastened onthe preacher, spoke for the first time.

  "That is sweet humility, while ye are oppressed," he said, in a voicealmost prophetic. "But will ye remember it, when ye come into power?"

  Power! Had any of that congregation a hope for power? The wordstartled them. They looked at the rabbi's garments, clothing a hugeframe, the strength of the Law typified, and wondered at his words.Even the preacher had no ready answer. The intimation of the Nazarenesin power on the lips of an expounder of the Law was not conducive toinstant comment.

  "So ye were in the Jews' place, what would ye do?" he asked again.Marsyas looked at the rabbi in surprise, but meanwhile the preacheranswered.

  "Christ's doctrine suffereth no change for rank or power."

  "Watch; forget it not!" Eleazar turned to Marsyas. "I have seen, mybrother," he said. "This is not the method. Let us wait; our timewill come."

  Contented to go, Marsyas turned with the rabbi and together they passedthrough the gathering to the door. But before they went out, Marsyasspoke again to the silent congregation.

  "Rest ye," he said, "we are not informers." They went forth.