Luke was a few years younger than Paul, though he appeared to be a much younger man. They had become very close friends during the journeys Paul had taken to spread the evangel among the Gentile nations. He had taken great pains to record key events and conversations during the trips he had made. He had also spoken with many eyewitnesses to the events of the early days of what had become the Church. These were the events that he was now reliving with Paul—more than 30 years after they had occurred.
“Here it is,” said Luke, scanning his writing. He read:
“Then those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day!”
“Glory to God!” said Paul, clapping his hands. “What a day!”
Luke nodded and continued reading.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Luke looked up at Paul.
“Those four simple actions became the basis for the meetings—teaching, fellowship, prayer, and communion. And the Lord blessed!”
He continued his reading.
“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. The believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
Paul shook his head in silent agreement, smiling at the community that was born in God’s heart. The Lord never failed to amaze him. Here it all began. He drank it all in as Luke continued reading about those glorious, early days: how they continued to meet together in the Temple courts, broke bread in their homes, and enjoyed God’s favor and the favor of the people. Most importantly, they were adding to their numbers daily the men and women who believed in the Christ!
“How much more of this must we endure?” asked Rugio. “My lord, I trust your direction in this, but these people are growing in greater and greater numbers like the vermin they are!”
He leaned in and added, “When do we move against them?”
Lucifer smiled at the furor he enjoyed so much in his favorite commander. He sometimes wished the others in his circle were more like him, thinking more with their might than their minds. It made Rugio quite valuable: intensely loyal, ready to act, and asking few questions. Although at this moment he raised a good one.
They were meeting in response to the growing concern among the newly fervent group led by Peter. The blast of the Temple horn could be heard nearby, testimony to the hold of the Most High upon these people. True, something needed to be done, but Lucifer saw no need to panic—at least not yet. Many of his angels clamored for action. He knew he must move against Peter—but in due time. He looked over the council and spoke.
“My friends, I assure you that the actions of these vermin, as Rugio quite aptly called them,” he nodded at Rugio who grinned and sat down, “are indeed disturbing.”
“Disturbing?” cried Kara. “It is criminal! The reports I get are of nothing but sickening community and prayer and… argh! Where does it end?”
“It ends as always in Jerusalem,” said Lucifer calmly. He shook his head. “Do you not realize where we are? I am, quite frankly, not as disturbed by these misfits as I am by the Lord’s misjudgment in planting them here in this city!” He added with mock despair, “I am concerned about His mental condition!”
They all laughed.
“I am concerned about our condition,” sniffed Kara.
Pellecus shuddered at Kara’s disrespect. “I believe that Lucifer is pointing out that the Lord has not yet learned from history,” he said. “Jerusalem both generates and annihilates religious fanaticism. They killed Messiah, did they not? They murdered His prophets. Do you think the leaders in this proud city will tolerate His followers continuing their disturbances?”
“But they have the favor of the people,” said Kara. “Why should they turn on them?”
“The people are sheep,” said Lucifer. “Blind, stupid animals. They will follow their leaders in this as always. It is the priests who will continue this matter for us.” Lucifer glanced at Pellecus. “They simply need a plan—some guidance…”
Pellecus nodded and vanished.
Lucifer smiled and looked beyond the group toward the Temple site. The sound of workmen and artisans and others continued the work that, in many cases, their fathers had begun over 40 years before. Initiated by Herod the Great, the Temple was to be his supreme legacy—albeit a bloody one. Lucifer turned back to the group.
“The men building that structure have been working for years,” he said. “The laborers do it for their pay and for their God. Those directing them build for vanity and for glory—something that humans find quite difficult to part with. You ask me, Kara and Rugio, how we are to deal with the vermin? I tell you to look at the Temple—and you will see glory and vanity and religious pride. These will become our weapons as we move against this pack of ‘believers,’ as they call themselves.”
He smiled and put his hand on Rugio’s shoulder. Below them, making their way through the noisy street were Peter and John. They were going to the Temple, escorted by several holy angels. Lucifer pointed at the two men.
“We’ll begin with those two,” he said. “To steal from a worn-out prophecy, they have bruised my heel, and now I shall crush their heads!”
“They are well protected, my lord,” said Rugio, looking at the escorts.
“And highly favored,” added Kara.
“So are we,” said Lucifer, whose attention turned to a group of Pharisees on the steps of the Temple, who were glaring at the two men as they arrived. “Never fear! As always, Jerusalem shall both be the breeding ground and the battleground of religious nonsense. And from such nonsense blood flows freely!”
Chronicles of the Host
The Enemy Responds
Thus it was with the wonderful birth of the new Church, or gathering, of the Most High’s faithful, that a new hope emerged—one born not only from prophecy fulfilled but also from power demonstrated. For the Spirit of the Lord Himself worked in and among the people, so that John and Peter and others found themselves used of God to work miracles of healing and deliverance—much as in the days when Jesus had walked the very same streets.
The people flocked to the disciples to be healed not only by their power, but also by their words. For they spoke of the great plans of God to redeem Israel—that the death of Jesus was not an event conducted by mere men, but a plan set forth by God Himself. The people were open to the teaching—and great numbers of them began finding hope in this Savior.
True to his words, Lucifer found the Pharisees to be willing, if unwitting, partners in persecuting the growing numbers of this strange Jewish sect. Stirred by their own religious bigotry and the careful inducement of Pellecus’ subtle words into their raging minds, the leading Jews determined to act. “If these heretics continue promoting Jesus and acting in His name,” they reasoned, “they will bring down the wrath of Rome, and we shall lose our position and our nation!”
Thus the chief priest, Caiaphas, the very man who had slapped the Lord at His trial and accused Him of blasphemy, now agreed among his advisors to send a delegation of Temple guards and priests, led by Zichri, to confront the leaders of the fledgling movement—chiefly Peter and John. So it was that, upon the healing of a man at the Temple gate called Beautiful, they saw their advantage…
“Rise up and walk!”
The man rose to his feet to the astonishment of the crowd. Born crippled, he had become almost a part of the very gate under which he had begged most of his life. But here he was—on his feet dancing and praising God! He held on to Peter as the crowd gathered around them, making their way to a place near Solomon’s Colonnade.
“Men of Israel, why does this surprise you?” Peter asked the people. “You look at us as if we in our own power made this man well.”
“But we saw it,” a voice cried out.
Peter looked to the direction of the v
oice and continued. “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that healed this man!”
The crowd looked at each other in response to this, murmuring among themselves the name Jesus and reasoning that He was the man who had been condemned weeks earlier. But what had Jesus to do with this?
“My brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance in killing Jesus, as did your leaders. But this happened because God had willed and prophesied that it should happen. So now you have an opportunity to return to God and truly repent of your sins and be refreshed by the Lord!”
“How do you know these things?” asked an old man, who was blind in one eye. “How do we know you are not bewitched?”
The crowd grunted in affirmation.
“Because,” Peter continued, “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.’ And he added that ‘Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’”
John nodded in agreement.
“All the prophets from Samuel on foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. You are yourselves beneficiaries of this prophecy! Through Abraham you are now free through Christ…”
Pellecus had accompanied Zichri and the others who had been sent to investigate the disturbances caused by Peter and John. Berenius joined him at the behest of Kara, who wanted to make sure his influence in the matter wasn’t overlooked. Following behind the priests, they continually spoke into their minds outrageous thoughts of these ignorant fishermen causing such a religious row. They didn’t have to go far, since the crowd had gathered near the Temple. This seemed to fan the rage even further.
“What a poor choice of places to make a point,” mused Berenius. “Peter and John are conducting themselves right at the wolves’ doorstep.”
“What better place to make a point?” asked Pellecus. “Nevertheless it suits our purposes quite well.” He laughed. “Zichri is almost out of his mind with anger!”
Berenius smiled.
“Those angels with them certainly have a task ahead of them,” he commented, looking at the three angels dispatched by Michael to remain at the side of Peter and John. “This crowd has a way of turning on a man.”
The priests pushed their way through the crowd and stood listening to Peter and John. A few of the people slinked off at the sight of the Pharisees and Temple guards, but most of the crowd remained, listening to the two disciples. Many, in fact, believed on the name of Jesus and declared so openly.
“Need we hear any more?” fumed Zichri, scowling at the faces around him. “They are spreading their seditious nonsense at the Temple itself!”
“The people do seem accommodating in the matter,” observed one of the priests.
“Yes,” agreed Zichri, looking at the captain of the guard. “Too accommodating.”
The captain nodded and gave orders to his men to move in.
Pellecus and Berenius relished the scene as Peter and John were taken away even as they were yet speaking. Several holy angels who were assigned to Peter and John stationed themselves close to the two disciples. Berenius sneered at the heavenly protectors and cursed them.
“You’re too late!” he chided.
The holy angels ignored him.
Pellecus and Berenius looked on as the arresting party disappeared into the Temple complex. The people began to disperse, although some found others of the group who believed on the name of Jesus and joined themselves to them. Pellecus looked at Berenius with a satisfied expression.
“Report back to Lucifer and Kara all that has occurred,” he said. “Tell them that the lambs are once more in the hands of those idiotic wolves—or shortly shall be.”
Berenius smiled and vanished.
The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme religious body in Jerusalem. The men who comprised its membership numbered 71, and they derived their authority from a mixture of tradition, rabbinical law, and the existence of the Temple. And though there were also smaller religious Sanhedrins throughout Judea, the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem was the supreme political and judicial council of all the Jews.
For Lucifer, this group provided the greatest possibility for exploitation. He felt that Pellecus, whose academic pride and interest in things philosophical, was ideally suited to influence these religious leaders. Pellecus agreed and found it amusing to listen to the men who believed that Israel was theirs to shepherd as they pleased. So bent were they on maintaining their authority that very little suggestion on the part of Pellecus was needed; they were genuinely and securely operating in the darkness of vanity.
The men who assembled in the large meeting room included the high priest, Caiaphas, and members of his family including John and Alexander—no friends to Peter and John. Also in the room were Zichri and the men who had witnessed Peter and John’s arrest.
As high priest, Caiaphas knew that he was ultimately responsible for whatever decision might be rendered by the group. He had already dealt with their leader; now it was a matter of reining in the rest of them and putting an end to the nonsense once and for all. He understood politics well, as his own office had come at the price of marrying the daughter of Annas, the previous high priest who now presided over the Sanhedrin.
“What was the nature of their teaching?” Caiaphas asked, his face glowing in the light of the room’s many lamps.
“What else?” said Alexander, looking at Zichri with whom he had already spoken. “They proclaim this dead Jesus and the resurrection of the dead.”
Caiaphas laughed. “I can’t fault them for teaching the resurrection of the dead, as that is one of our cardinal beliefs,” he said. “But as to this Jesus—the criminal we … or rather the Romans executed—is there no end to it? I thought once the leader was gone we would no longer hear about Him.”
“They believe Him raised from the dead,” said Zichri. “And they believe He empowers them from on high.”
“So what are we to do?” asked Alexander.
“I don’t know,” said Caiaphas, perplexed by it all. “Another trial would not be prudent. Not yet anyway.”
“Perhaps they could fall victim to some random violent character,” suggested Zichri.
Caiaphas shot a glance at Zichri. “Come now, my man,” he said. “We are not common murderers! We are priests and guardians of the people’s faith. No, we must deal with this in a legal and thorough manner. Be seated, all of you. We must decide this before tomorrow’s hearing.”
Pellecus had settled into the corner of the room, watching the men who were deciding the fate of Peter and John. The fools! If they understood what they were really dealing with … Lucifer was correct in asserting that the pride of men was often worse than the pride of angels!
“Quite an assemblage,” came a familiar voice.
It was Lucifer.
“Yes, lord,” said Pellecus, with a curt bow of his head. “Seems they have attracted the attention of the worst of the lot.”
“Quick work,” Lucifer agreed. “Now if they’ll only finish it.”
“They aren’t quite ready for a final determination,” said Pellecus. “They are talking of beating the men and releasing them. Seems Caiaphas is not quite ready to bring murderous charges again.”
“Humans!” sneered Lucifer. “If they had simply murdered Jesus immediately instead of waiting so long, they would not be having this trouble today.”
“Seems so, my lord,” said Pellecus.
Lucifer looked at the men, shaking his head in disbelief. “Very well,” he said finally. “Remain here. Continue to stir up their hatred and determination to end this cult before it gets out of control.”
“I will do as you command,” said Pellecus.
Lucifer looked at Caiaphas. “Perhaps there is yet another murder lurking in his heart. In time.”
He looked at Pellecus. “See to it,” he said and vanished.
After leavin
g the two men meager food and water, the jailer closed the trap door that led down to the dank cellar-jail that would be their home for the night. In spite of what others might consider an obvious setback, Peter and John were encouraged by the great numbers of people who had become believers in the Lord.
“I heard the jailer say ‘thousands,’” said Peter. “What a glorious crime to be charged with!”
John laughed. “And one of the new believers was the jailer’s sister!” he replied. “Little wonder he was a bit rough with you.”
Peter nodded. “In truth, John, things may get even rougher,” he said. “But I have had my fill of denying the Lord. I now will have the honor of suffering for Him.”
“Quiet down there,” came the increasingly hostile and drunken voice of the jail keeper. “You’ve ruined my family with your talk. Now enough!” The man sniffed. “My poor sister …”
Peter looked at John and winked. “We’ll be praying for you too, my friend,” he shouted toward the jailer.
The sounds of a great crash followed as the man apparently threw his drink at the wall, cursing as he did.
The two disciples laughed.
The angels watching over Peter and John remained alert to any possible intrusions by the enemy. They didn’t really expect anything tonight, as the men were already in custody and faced a hearing the next day. Nevertheless, they were amazed at the men’s joyous spirits.
Darlon, a blond warrior, sat next to John. He was a favorite of Michael and had once been apprenticed to the archangel. He now served at Michael’s request—this time as John’s guardian. The other angel, Merlos, stood next to Peter. He had been with the older apostle since he had denied Jesus many weeks earlier. Merlos was also a warrior and had recently been assigned to protect a group of believers living in Bethany who had been in Jerusalem for the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost feast. It would be an interesting assignment.
Fire and Sword Page 4
