“I have never seen such a sight,” he said. “Elymas was a man of great power. But if this is the power of your God, I wish to know Him.”
Paul smiled at the Roman and sat next to him.
“John Mark has left?” Paul asked. “We need him in Pisidian Antioch.”
Barnabas tried to console his friend. Ever since the event at the house of Sergius Paulus, John Mark had been telling him that he wanted to return to Jerusalem. Now, in Perga, John Mark had seen his chance and had taken off.
“He was not ready,” said Paul. “Well, let’s take our leave.”
“He missed his home,” Barnabas said. “He is young.”
“What better time to serve God than in one’s youth?” Paul asked.
He looked at the road leading out of Perga. He sighed and turned back to Barnabas. “Well, the best to him. On to Pisidia.”
Pisidian Antioch, so named for the Antiochus rulers, had been founded by a successor of Alexander. Located at a strategic point in southern Galatia, it was a well-garrisoned city and managed the road from Ephesus to Syria. It had become a favorite city for retired Roman officials and was a strange mixture of east and west.
When Paul and Barnabas arrived, they found the synagogue, which overlooked the city, and were invited to speak. Paul stood and thanked the synagogue rulers. He noted that some curious Gentiles were among those in attendance.
“Men of Israel and you Gentiles, thank you for inviting me to speak. I do indeed have a message for you…”
Barnabas looked around at the faces of the Jews as Paul recounted the nation’s history from Abraham until now. They seemed intent on his every word, and he spoke with boldness and authority.
“I told you that we bring good news—and so we do. This Jesus, who was crucified, has been raised up and has fulfilled that for which our fathers had been waiting. I want you to know that through Jesus forgiveness of sins has been proclaimed to you. A forgiveness that was impossible under the Law.”
One of the synagogue rulers shifted uncomfortably.
“So take care, my brothers. As the prophet said, ‘I shall do something among you that you would never believe even if someone told you.’”
As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, groups of men began gathering to discuss what he had said. Paul noticed and observed to Barnabas, “It is a difficult thing to give up one’s tradition.”
“Paul?”
Paul turned to see a man, accompanied by several others from the town.
“We were listening to you,” the man said. “We are not Jews—not yet anyway. But we believe what you were teaching.”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be forgiven,” Paul said. “God’s love was shed for all men.”
One of the synagogue rulers stood in the doorway, watching Paul walk back to the town. The Gentile believers were following him, asking questions. The ruler, a man named Jereliah, motioned for others to join him. They went inside the synagogue to confer about the matter.
In the shadows, two figures watched the proceedings with great interest.
“Paul has brought a great light to Pisidia, Pellecus,” one said.
“Yes,” said Pellecus. “And he has also shed light on how we might be rid of him. His good news will be the death of him yet. The Jews. Always the Jews. Mark this, Strabor. Religion will always kill faith. And in Pisidian Antioch it shall kill Paul of Tarsus!”
“I wonder how you will be received today at synagogue,” Barnabas asked, as the men walked the hill the following week. “You certainly didn’t make any friends among the Jews.”
“Pray, Barnabas,” Paul said, as they rounded the hill. “Pray for our brothers. They are blinded by the same law that blinded me. But the Gentiles!”
“Seemed receptive,” Barnabas agreed.
“No look! The Gentiles!”
Barnabas looked at an enormous crowd that had gathered outside the synagogue. Gentiles from the town—the whole town it seemed—were awaiting Paul’s arrival and wanted to hear him speak some more. They watched Paul and Barnabas as they entered the synagogue, and the room quickly filled.
“Watch out,” Barnabas whispered.
Paul watched the synagogue rulers enter and take their places. Once more he spoke of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness He brings to all who would call on His name.
“Through Jesus, everyone who believes is justified as you could not be justified under the Law of Moses …” Paul continued.
After Paul finished speaking, he stood outside of the synagogue, conversing with the Gentile residents. The excitement in the air was palpable; Barnabas could only thank the Lord for such a reception among the people. Others took note of the response as well and were not as happy.
“This man is dangerous,” Simeon, a ruler, said.
Jereliah motioned for him to be quiet.
“You there! Citizen!” Jereliah called to a man standing near the crowd that had gathered around Paul. “Come here.”
The man walked over.
“What are you doing? This man is talking nonsense. Can’t you see that?”
The man looked puzzled. “Didn’t you hear him? We are free—all of us. You as well.”
“Don’t lecture me on religious matters,” Jereliah said, dismissing the man. He turned to Simeon. “These men are fools. Completely taken in.”
“What shall we do?” Simeon asked.
“I’m thinking, Simeon,” Jereliah answered. “Somehow we have to get through to these men of Pisidian Antioch. This sort of poison spreads fast.”
Off to their side, Pellecus was standing with several other angels. He turned to them. “A fool calling a fool a fool,” he said. “These Jews are just as stupid as the Gentiles. But believe I have the answer to Simeon’s question.”
“You have a way to turn the hearts of these men?” Strabor asked. “They are like mongrels feeding on scraps.”
“Not the men, Strabor. Men are idiots. No, I have observed among men that the best way to bring about a change is often through women,” Pellecus said. “We saw this to great effect with Eve. It was a woman who killed a dream in Eden. Perhaps a woman shall kill Paul’s dream here!”
Pellecus came up to Jereliah. He smiled at Strabor and turned to Jereliah and began speaking into his angry mind.
“Look. Look at the women …”
Jereliah glanced casually at the Gentile women, grouped together and watching their husbands from a distance. Vain, silly women, he thought to himself.
“What is your master doing?” said Serus, who appeared above Paul.
“Ah, Serus!” said Strabor. “Where have you been? It’s just getting interesting.”
Serus looked at the Jews, huddled together. Several of Pellecus’ angels were moving among them, fueling their hatred of Paul. He also noticed angels moving toward the women to do the same to them. They were screaming in delight, jeering the women as they began planting thoughts about Paul in their minds.
“The women this time,” Serus surmised.
“Why not?” Pellecus answered, interrupting his work on Jereliah. “It worked on Eve. They are the same emotionally gullible creatures as they have always been. Watch and learn, lapdog of Michael.”
“Those women…” Pellecus continued. “They don’t like Paul.”
Jereliah looked up. He saw the women standing in groups along the rim of the hill. He called Simeon over.
“The women don’t like Paul, do they?” he asked.
“No, they are suspicious.”
“Interesting.”
“The men will never turn on Paul. But these women…”
Jereliah began walking to the women of the town. They were surprised to see a ruler of the synagogue approach them. Strabor accompanied him. He smiled at them.
“Seems your men are taken with this Paul,” Jereliah said.
“It’s all they talk about,” said one woman.
“My husband wants to give him money,” said another. “We have little enough as
it is!” Several other women chimed in.
“It’s not their fault,” Jereliah continued. “Paul is a trickster. He uses religion like sorcery to win the minds of men. And then he asks people to give money. If you are not careful, you will lose your men to this man’s bizarre teaching.”
The demon spirits continued moving in and out of the women, feeding their suspicion and focusing their anger on Paul. Some of the leading men in the city had also arrived and were antagonistic toward Paul’s message. The women, God-fearing Gentiles who had been schooled in Jewish teachings, became increasingly agitated with Paul. And with the added weight of agitation by the rulers of the synagogue, they began walking toward the men.
Some of the men saw their wives approaching and walked to them. Others ducked out. A few of the women pulled their husbands out of the group and berated them. All of them turned their anger on Paul and Barnabas.
“Get out of here!” a woman shouted.
“Paul is a troublemaker!” said another.
Paul saw Barnabas trying to quell some of the women who had come to confront him. Two of the men began fighting. Arguments broke out among the citizens. Finally a city official arrived, the husband of one of the leading ladies, and ordered Paul out of the region for inciting a near riot.
“Our work here is done, Barnabas,” Paul said with a half-grin.
“And not too soon,” Barnabas agreed.
The citizens watched Paul and Barnabas leave. They continued calling after them with jeers and catcalls. A few of the men who had believed were greatly confused and confronted the Jewish teachers. Jereliah called Simeon over to him, and Simeon congratulated him on his success.
“A short-lived victory,” Jereliah said, as Paul and Barnabas disappeared down the road. “There are other towns they will go to. Other people willing to follow so persuasive a man. Follow them, Simeon. And wherever they go, incite violence against them. Let them never have a moment’s peace in Asia!”
“It will be done,” Simeon said.
Jereliah gave Simeon money for the effort.
“Not a moment’s peace!” he shouted after him as he left.
Pellecus hated meetings like this—especially when Kara was in attendance. His boast to handle Paul had proven reckless, and though Paul’s life had been threatened a few times, no real harm befell him or Barnabas. And so they were to meet—Lucifer and the three angels that were his vital leaders: Pellecus, Kara, and Rugio. Nobody had up to this point stilled Paul or Peter; his failure was shared by everyone present.
They were meeting at Delphi, a favorite place of Pellecus. He had created the oracle as a means of deceiving local rulers and maintaining influence over this part of the world, which was under his authority. The Oracle of Delphi was built around a sacred spring, and was considered to be the center of the world. The Oracle, a priestess known as the Pythia, was another of Pellecus’ creations, a devotee of the god Apollo. Her cryptic messages delighted the angels who controlled her, and Pellecus was particularly amused at how humans interpreted her nonsense.
“Brothers!” Lucifer said, appearing before them suddenly. “Welcome to Delphi.”
Pellecus was unnerved by Lucifer’s uncharacteristically good humor. In light of recent setbacks, he had expected an angry reaction. The angels watched as Lucifer approached them.
“What news of Saul?” Lucifer asked. “Or should I say Paul?”
Kara and Pellecus looked at each other. Then Rugio spoke up. “He is in Lystra, lord, encouraging the believers there.”
Lucifer stood near the shrine. The oracle sat silent, awaiting her next visitor. He looked at her. “And you didn’t even need the Pythia to tell you this,” he said. The others laughed uneasily.
“Would that she could tell us his next move,” Kara said. “Unfortunately, she is limited to Pellecus’ wisdom.”
“We don’t need the Pythia, nor Pellecus,” said Lucifer. “It’s evident that all of Asia is susceptible to this teaching.”
“Stupid people,” Kara said. “They will listen to anything as long as the speaker is convincing.”
“Paul’s speech is unimpressive,” said Pellecus. “He is not like this woman—she speaks, and men interpret. But Paul—he speaks, and great power follows.”
“Agreed,” said Lucifer. “It is the power he brings with the message. But tell me, my friends—what is it about humans that drives them to seek solace in gods and oracles? To build magnificent temples in homage to stone deities?”
“Simple,” said Pellecus. “The need to know.”
“More than that, Pellecus,” Lucifer answered. “The need to know that someone greater than themselves knows. A god.”
Lucifer smiled. He pointed at the Pythia.
“Men seek her out because they believe she hears from the god Apollo,” Lucifer said. “And they leave thinking they have encountered divinity.”
“Yes?” Pellecus responded. “But how does that help us with Paul?”
“The Lycaonians are particularly devout,” Lucifer continued. “In Lystra, they are constantly looking for signs from the gods. It occurs to me, my friends, that since we cannot stop the power that the Most High exerts through these men, we might use it to obscure the message.”
“The message?” Kara answered.
“The message, Kara, is the compelling issue. The power is only a sign—an indicator that the message is real. Power comes and goes. Miracles happen on occasion. And the message—this evangel—is enduring. We cannot destroy the message—but perhaps we can confuse the source of its power.”
“How, my lord?” asked Rugio.
“Lystra is seeking the gods,” Lucifer said. “Let us introduce them to a couple.”
Barnabas’ feet were throbbing. The trek to Lystra had seemed unending. He was glad to be seated in the market square, his feet resting in a bowl of water. He looked up as Paul returned with some food from a vendor. The locals glanced at the strange men as they walked by, keeping their distance.
“Ready?” Paul asked as Barnabas finished the brown bread.
“The Lycaonians are certainly suspicious of strangers,” Barnabas said, standing up. “I hope they are more receptive than the Pisidians were.”
“We’ll find out,” Paul said. “Right over there.”
Barnabas followed Paul to the center of the market. There Paul began telling the people of Lystra about the God he served. A crowd began to gather. Some were bored. Others went about their business. But a few were listening—including a man who was crippled. As Paul spoke, he knew in his spirit that this man had faith to be healed.
“You there,” Paul shouted. “Stand up! On your feet!”
The man, who could not walk and had been accustomed to pulling himself along on a crude cart, suddenly felt a surge of warmth throughout his body. As people watched in amazement, the man stood up for the first time in years. A great shout of joy went up around the man as he gave praise to God and thanked Paul. A large crowd gathered to see what was happening—and many watched and waited to see what Paul might do next.
Pellecus and Kara stood next to the man who, moments before, had been bound by a spirit that had overtaken his body with disease. They glared at the humbled spirit who had been forced out of the man on Paul’s words. The spirit looked at the two glaring angels and vanished in fright. Pellecus watched the people coming to Paul and Barnabas.
“As I said,” Pellecus began, “it’s the power that impresses people. But it’s the source which they worship.” He smiled at Kara. “Let’s give the gods a little credit for this one, shall we? At least we’ll take the attention off Paul.”
Pellecus moved among the crowd and found a particularly fanatical man who was devoted to the local temple. He looked at Paul with wonder, as if he was looking at a god and not a man. Pellecus sensed this, moved in close, and began speaking into his mind. At once the man ran to Paul and Barnabas and stole the crowd’s attention.
“I have received a message from the gods!” he proclaimed to
the people in Lycaonian. “These are not mere men. This is Zeus and Hermes!” The people stood back and began to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Pellecus laughed at the predicament, enjoying the fruit of his work.
“And now we’ll see how a little worship affects these two,” he said. “What human can resist the adoration of other humans?”
Paul looked about him.
“What are they saying?” Barnabas asked.
“I’m not sure,” Paul said. “They are speaking their dialect.”
A woman ran up and spoke to Paul in Greek.
“They have proclaimed you gods,” she said. “You are Hermes,” she said, not daring to look Paul in the eyes. “And the other is great Zeus!”
Barnabas and Paul looked at each other.
“No, no!” Paul exclaimed. “We are only men!”
But the people heard none of it and brought offerings and sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, invoking their names and asking for favors and blessing from the gods. Finally Paul was able to get their attention and shouted loudly. “Why are you doing this? We are only men, human like you.”
He picked up one of the offerings and handed it back to a woman.
“We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything in them. You are bringing us these things as if we had power. But hear me. God alone has power. And He provides for you out of the abundance of His creation—even nations such as yours who don’t even know His name.”
Suddenly a voice rang out in the crowd.
“Those men are troublemakers! They were run out of our region because they were inciting riots and stirring up the people.”
Paul scanned the crowd and saw the familiar face of Simeon. The determined Jew berated Paul and Barnabas and began turning the crowd against them.
Fire and Sword Page 13
