Immediately, dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, for Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit—but the Pharisees confess both. The scribes of the Pharisees arose and protested, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
The commander, fearing Paul might be pulled to pieces by the council, had soldiers take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks. When Luke visited him that night, he was struck to find Paul dejected and in need of encouragement, so he prayed for him. Paul told him later that in the night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
Luke had no idea what that meant, when they might go, or how long Paul might be restrained there. But taking heart from Paul, who had become his brave mentor in the faith, Luke decided he would remain with him regardless the danger.
TWENTY-FIVE
The next day more than forty of the Jews came to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him, but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
When Paul’s sister’s son heard of their planned ambush, he went to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”
When the commander, Claudius Lysias, heard of the plot, he told Paul’s nephew, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
Then he called for two centurions, instructing them to prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to accompany Paul to Caesarea at the third hour of the night and take Paul safely to Antonius Felix/div>
To the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.
This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.
Farewell.
Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul by night to Antipatris. When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul to him. And when the governor determined that Paul was from the province of Cilicia, he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.”
Paul was kept in Herod’s Praetorium for five days until Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and an orator named Tertullus.
Tertullus flattered the governor, then began: “We have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
When Paul was allowed to speak, he said, “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to The Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’”
Governor Felix adjourned the proceedings, “ed to friends to provide for or visit him. Luke spent every moment with Paul, encouraging him and praying with him.
Once Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and sent for Paul to hear him concerning the faith in Christ. As Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix looked afraid and said, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will‡¾¿†is medical services on a huge cargo and passenger ship that carried more than three hundred souls, including crew. Fortunately the worst he had to deal with were minor injuries to mates and about a dozen cases of mild seasickness among new travelers.
During periods of high seas, which occurred mostly after dark, Luke took special care to protect his scrolls, quills, ink, and fresh papyrus that had been provided by Theophilus. He prayed the Lord would grant calm waters as they drew within a few days of the great port city, knowing that his excitement and anticipation alone would make sleep difficult.
When finally Luke disembarked just after midday on a Friday, he found his way ashore with two large wood crates—one bearing a makeshift collapsible desk he was pleased to discover had survived intact. He was grateful to be met by a middle-aged woman and two boys in their teens, the boys immediately relieving him of his burdens.
“Careful, lads,” he said. “Precious cargo there.”
The woman, a sturdy no-nonsense type who drove the horses with confidence and thick-fingered hands, introduced herself as Gregoriana, a servant of John’s. She peered at Luke with dark eyes and said sternly, “So you know what that means.”
“I’m not sure that I do,” he said, smiling. “Does that make you a Daughter of Thunder?” Jesus Himself had called John and his brother James the Sons of Thunder because of their tempestuous tempers. Luke had found that John must have mellowed with age, though the old flames could be rekindled with just the right offense to his senses.
“I don’t know about thunder,” Gregoriana said. “But what it mea
ns to be a servant of Elder John is that I tend to the private residence of the mother of our Lord.”
“Whom I am here to see.”
“The entire church is well aware of that, Doctor. And you will enjoy a warm welcome, though John has instructed that your time not be presumed upon, as you are here for important work.”
“That I am, and I appreciate it.”
“In the elder’s absence, sir, Mary’s welfare is my responsibility.”
“I assure you I will extend her every courtesy.”
Gregoriana guided the horses through the crowded harbor traffic and onto the thoroughfare that led to the church. The boys in back held tight to Luke’s crates, keeping them steady as the wagon jostled slowly along.
“In truth, sir, it is I who will ensure that you extend her every courtesy.”
“I am at your disposal, ma’am. You tell me what her availability and limitations are.”
“It happens that she is an early riser and a light eater, though I warn you she loves to lavish food on her guests.”
“I am a careful eater myself,” Luke said.
That it seemed she was eager to cooperate thrilled him. He didn’t know what he would have done or how he would hav
e proceeded if she had been resistant or refused to see him, or worse, was unable to communicate at such an advanced age.
Luke only hoped he could keep his excitement and reverence for her at bay so he could accomplish his work. He looked forward to the day when all the digging was over and he could settle somewhere and begin to pen his actual gospel account. Others were planning or already doing the same, he knew, but he trusted that the Lord had urged him to do this because of the unique direction his would take. While he did not have the advantage of being an eyewitness and knowing Jesus personally, his goal was to overcome that by constructing the most complete record possible, from the foretelling of Jesus by John the Baptist to the present.
As Luke was gazing out the window at the setting sun, his heart leapt as Gregoriana approached from next door.
“She is up and alert,” the woman reported, “and only a little peeved with me for letting her sleep. Bring your writing materials.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Tiny, with clear eyes and a kind, close-mouthed smile, Mary stood under the arched doorway to her home. “Thank you, Gregoriana,” she said, as the woman slipped inside.
Luke quickly set down his papyrus and writing instruments as Mary shyly reached for him. Her hands proved soft and supple as she clasped his hand and pulled him close. “Let these old eyes get a look at you, Dr. Luke. Welcome, welcome.”
Luke could barely find his voice. “I’m deeply honored to have this privilege,” he said finally.
“The honor is mine,” she said, leading him in. “Are your accommodations adequate?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
“And are you hungry?”
“If I wasn’t, the aroma would make me so.”
“You recognize it?”
“I couldn’t name it specifically, but certainly fish.”
“Local and fresh,” she said, leading him to the table where Gregoriana and two others were delivering dishes and cups. “It seemed only appropriate to our conversation.”
As Mary settled at the table, Gregoriana whispered to Luke, “She may need help rising.”
Mary asked Luke to give thanks for the food, and while they conversed during the meal, he steered her away from anything that would have required he take notes. He didn’t want to miss recording anything important.
“So she knew.”
Mary nodded. “And while I was there she told me of how her own pregnancy came to be. Zacharias was in the temple in the order of his division, according to custom, when his lot fell to burn incense before the Lord. A multitude was praying outside at the hour of incense, and while he was inside an angel of the Lord appeared to him.”
“Did he say exactly where?”
“Elizabeth told me he said the angel stood on the right side of the altar, and when Zacharias saw him, he was terrified. But the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”
“Did he understand what the angel was telling him?”
“Well, he doubted whether it could be true, of course. He said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’
“And the angel said, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. Behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.’
“Luke, you can imagine the people waiting for Zacharias marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
“As soon as the days of his service were completed, he went home. Now, after Elizabeth conceived, she hid herself five months, saying, ‘Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”
“Mary, how did you respond to Elizabeth after she pronounced her blessing on you?”
Mary smiled. “I shall never forget. I have prayed this prayer thousands of times since. I said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He sence of height="6" width="1em">“‘He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.’”
Luke pressed his lips together as he transcribed, desperate to keep his tears at bay. When he finished, he whispered, “May I read it back to you to make sure I have gotten it exactly as you told me?” And in the reading of it, he was overcome anew.
“You rendered it perfectly,” Mary said.
She told him she had remained with Elizabeth about three months, until just before John was born, before returning to her own home. “Elizabeth told me that when her full time came for her to be delivered, she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
“So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. But Aunt Elizabeth said, ‘No, he shall be called John.’
“But they said, ‘There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.’ So they made signs to Zacharias—as he must have lost his hearing as well as his speech—asking what he would have the child called.
“And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
“Then fear came on all who dwelt around them, and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, ‘What kind of child will this be?’ And the hand of the Lord was with John.
“Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, ‘Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
“‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’”
Luke was further amazed. “How do you remember all this?”
“Oh, Doctor, anyone would of His ho"6">
“They said that then, suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
??
?So when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds told us that they said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ Oh, Luke, you should have seen the looks on their faces as they gazed at Jesus! It was plain they couldn’t wait to tell everyone what had been told them concerning Him.”
“I have talked with many in Judea who first heard of the Christ child from those shepherds,” Luke said.
“Indeed?”
“And all those who heard it marveled at those things that were told them by the shepherds.”
“None marveled as much as I, Doctor. I remembered all the details and have pondered them in my heart ever since.”
“Does it ever leave your mind?”
“Not for long. I think of that night every day. Of course, there are other memories from Jesus’ life I wish I could forget. But I remember every moment.”