Paul: a herald of the cross

Front matter

MISSIONARY SOCIETY a scholar in the. Methodist Sunday School at

. tX .

as an acknowledgment of diligence and fidelity in collecting Funds for the Missionary Society.

Preface

TN “Titus,” the first of this series, I endeavored to make new “the old, old story,” to depict a real, a living Jesus, not enthroned in some far-away inac¬ cessible glory, but “ with us alway, even unto the end.”

In “Stephen,” I showed the bereft disciples, com¬ forted with the comfort which streamed down into their sad hearts in abundant measure from the Master who had gone away because it was “expedient” for them, joyful with the joy which he had given them, and serene in the midst of trial and persecution with the peace which he had bestowed upon them, a last precious legacy.

In “ Paul,” I have carried the story further, and with it I have interwoven some account of the great world without the confines of the Holy Land ; the world which lay in misery and sin, and into which Christ had bidden his disciples go forth to carry the Glad-tidings of the Cross.

VI

PREFACE.

Saul the persecutor, the relentless Pharisee, the learned rabbi, has become Paul, the herald of the Cross. We see his heroic figure starting out into the night alone, in that darkest hour which comes before dawn, proclaiming in trumpet-tones the glorious tidings of the coming day. We see the brood of evil crea¬ tures, that loved darkness rather than light, bestir themselves to do him battle. We see the conflict joined, never to be given over for a moment till the worn conqueror lays his armor down to receive the crown of victory from the hand of the Lord, the right¬ eous Judge.

To fully understand the life and labors of the great apostle, it is necessary to also comprehend something of the hopeless degradation of those in high places, to look for an instant into the frightful abysses into which the decadent religions were hurrying mankind. I have therefore endeavored to portray the Christless world — the world as it was in the “ fullness of time,” as well as the divine remedy applied.

It seems scarcely necessary to give the long list of authorities consulted in the preparation of this volume. It will be noticed, however, that I refer most frequently in my occasional notes to Farrar’s “ Life and Work of St. Paul,” and to “The Life and Epistles of St. Paul” by Conybeare and Howson. And, indeed, while I

PREFACE.

vii

had in my possession many of the authorities to which these authors in their turn refer, I would acknowledge my great indebtedness to their scholarly works. I should also mention Guhl and Koner’s “ Life of the Greeks and Romans,” to which I referred continually for information relating to dress, customs, etc. ; and to the ancient chronicles of Josephus, where I found the stories of Agrippa, of Caius, of Herodias, and of the other historical personages who figure more or less largely in these pages.

If in these scenes from the life and times of St. Paul, I have succeeded, in some small measure, in enabling the reader to see for himself not merely Paul, the the¬ ologian ; Paul, the setter-forth of “ the scheme of sal¬ vation Paul, the stern ascetic, thundering forth reproof and denunciation against evil-doers — but Paul, the fear¬ less herald of the Cross, pouring out his life like water, that he might save the lost ; Paul, the tent-maker, laboring with his hands that he might minister to the necessities of others ; “ Paul, the aged “ Paul, the prisoner of the Lord Jesus,” healing the sick, cheer¬ ing the oppressed and down-trodden, the father of all the churches, the friend of sinners and of God — if we shall look upon him thus, we shall read the Epistles with new eyes, seeing in them the outpourings of a great loving heart which beat divinely for all human-

PREFACE.

ity ; and so reading, we shall long to be numbered among the saints and faithful brethren to whom he writes.

Florence Morse Kingsley.

West New Brighton, Feb. 6, 1897.

Staten Island, N. Y.

PART I. ** The Night is Far Spent."

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Vision on the Housetop, .... 13

II. In the House of Judas, . 23

III. The Soothsayer, . 32

IV. Three Princes and a Slave, . 39

V. In the Desert of Sinai, . 49

VI. The Recluse of Caprae, . 58

VII. The Rose of Lebanon, . 70

VIII. A Forbidden Visit, . 77

IX. In the Temple of Baal, . 88

X. The Physician and the Emperor, .... 96

XI. The Master of the World, . 107

XII. The Chosen and the Accursed, . . . *115

XIII. Saul in Jerusalem, . 129

XIV. IIerodias, . 143

XV. Caius, The God, . 152

XVI. The Colossus of Sidon, . 167

XVII. The Mediator, . 180

XVIII. The End of the Play, . 191

XIX. Interregnum, . 201

XX. Claudius Caesar . 209

(is)

X

CONTENTS.

PART II. “ The Day is at Hand?1

CHAPTER PAGE

XXI. An Epistle, . 223

XXII. A Boatman of Antioch, . 228

XXIII. The King of the Jews, . 241

XXIV. A Strong Deliverer, . 253

XXV. Retribution, . 261

XXVI. Sent Forth, . 271

XXVII. A Light of the Gentiles, .... 282 XXVIII. A Messenger of the Most High, . . . 291

XXIX. The Calling of Timothy, . 301

XXX. From Jerusalem to Galatia, .... 310

XXXI. In Philippi, . 317

XXXII. A Stranger in Athens, . 329

XXXIII. The Tent-Maker, . 341

XXXIV. A Business Man of Ephesus, .... 353

XXXV. Great Diana of the Ephesians, . . . 366

PART III. “ An Ambassador in Bonds T

XXXVI. “ Despised and Rejected,” .... 381

XXXVII. A Promise and a Vow, . 392

XXXVIII. Paul and Felix, . 403

XXXIX. “C^sarem Appello !” . . . . . 415

XL. On the Way to Rome . 427

XLI. “ Ready to be Offered,” . 440

Chapter I. The Vision On The Housetop

IVE the little one to me, and rest thou, queen of VJ my soul, while I show him the new moon yonder.”

“ He is ill because of the hot wind,” said the woman wearily. “ See the roses also, how they hang their heads ; the breath of the wilderness is death to such tender things.”

“Ay,” said the man, “it is an evil spirit which the mountains yonder war against continually. But be of good cheer, it hath again been driven back into the fiery torments of the desert. Hark, littlest, hearest thou the voice of the fountains, the song of many birds also, and the rejoicing of the green leaves ?”

He paused for a moment in his slow walk and the child hushed its fretful wail to listen ; as for the mother, she sat quietly, her back against the parapet, her eyes fixed upon the slender horn of the new moon which hung above the low eastern horizon. Through the silence came the musical gurgle and rush of water, and the rustle of foliage from the little garden below.

“ Look thou at the great mountain, son of mine,” continued the man ; “ he hath put on his robes of rose

FA UL.

that he may say farewell to the sun. Anon, he will be clothed in violet, then in sad garments the color of ashes, afterward he will sleep. Sleep thou also, little one ; to-morrow there will be no wind from the desert. Sleep thou, and the good Shepherd will watch thee.”

“ I hear some one knocking,” said the woman. She arose and advanced to the parapet which over¬ looked the street. “ It is our neighbor, Simon ; he hath returned from his journey to Jerusalem and will tell thee of it. Give me the child ; he will sleep now,” and taking the little one in her arms she de¬ scended to the terrace.

A slow step on the stair presently announced the new-comer. He was a stout man and breathed heavily as he set his foot on the roof level. He was also grumbling aloud. “ Had I a garden below, such as thine, friend Ananias,” he said, “ I would not climb to the roof.”

“ Greetings, friend, and a welcome,” returned Ana¬ nias with a quiet smile. “Jehovah grant that thy ways have been prospered. My garden is indeed good, but this is better, for here one can feel the breath of the mountains, the fragrance of the eternal snows on Hermon yonder.”

Simon replied with a shrug of the shoulders and an inarticulate grunt, as he settled himself upon a bench. “There are tidings of evil,” he said ab¬ ruptly. “ Hast thou heard ?”

“Nay, I have not heard ; what hath befallen ?”

THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP.

“ As thou knowest, I have been in Jerusalem ; there hath been there a great persecution of them that be¬ lieve on the Crucified One. Many are slain ; others are in prison, and others still are fled.”

The face of Ananias grew white in the fading light. “Who hath caused these things to be done?”

“ They that slew Jesus of Nazareth, and who will yet accomplish the destruction of all that believe on him,” answered Simon bitterly.

“ Hast thou forgotten that the Christ is set down at the right hand of Jehovah ?” cried Ananias. “ Surely he will not suffer our foot to be moved.”

“ He hath already suffered Stephen to be killed with stones. He hath suffered others of the disciples to be scourged and imprisoned. He hath suffered babes also to be left desolate, and little children to wail for food. But the destroyers wax fat and flourishing ; they are not moved.”

“So hath it ever appeared,” said Ananias. “Yet is the Lord mindful of his own.” Then, after a pause, he added, “ We are at peace, thanks be to Jehovah, for there is no one in all Damascus who would lift up a hand against us — who also walk blameless according to the law. Let us send word to the smitten ones that they come hither ; here shall they find refuge.”

“I have not yet told thee the worst,” said Simon, dejectedly. “A certain Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee taught of Gamaliel, and most bitter against the Christ, hath come hither to Damascus with the intent to carry away in chains to Jerusalem every least disciple of the

PAUL.

Crucified One. He is without mercy, and will slay and spare not all that resist him. When I heard of his purpose, I made haste to return to Damascus, that I might warn the brethren. Surely it were better to flee into the desert than to perish miserably under the scourge.”

His voice died away into silence, and in the hush the voice of the mother singing to her babe floated up to them.

Ananias moistened his dry lips. “ Didst thou say that the man laid his hand also upon women and babes?” he asked huskily.

“ More than once hath he seized the mother and left the little ones desolate in the house — for so it was told me in Jerusalem,” replied Simon. “Yet it may be that the Lord hath had mercy upon us. I heard a strange thing concerning the man as I came hither to¬ night ; it was told me by Ben Ethan, one of the keepers of the Eastern Gate. Yesterday, at about the ninth hour, a company of men approached the city, some riding upon beasts, others walking. In the midst was a man, whom also two of his comrades led by the hand. When the head keeper questioned them, say¬ ing, ‘ Who are you and whence do ye come ?’ One made answer, saying, * The chief man of our company is Saul, a worshipful rabbi from Jerusalem. He beareth letters from the Senate and Council of Israel to the governor of this city.'

“ ‘ Let him appear then and speak,’ quoth the keeper of the gate. To whom the other made answer, ‘ The

THE VISION ON TIIE HOUSETOP .

man Saul hath been grievously smitten in the way by a great and terrible light which blazed suddenly out of heaven as we journeyed ; and lo, he is blind, and we have brought him hither leading him by the hand, even as thou seest. Grant us an entrance speedily, I pray thee, that we may fetch him to a resting-place, for he is in a desperate strait.’ ”

“ And as Ben Ethan looked earnestly upon the man Saul, he perceived that he trembled exceedingly as he stood, and seemed not to hear what was passing about him, but continually did moan within himself, and also that his face was as the face of one stricken with death. Furthermore, he told me that when the business with the chief officer of the gate was finished, that they led the man, still trembling and moaning, 'into the city. God grant that death follow hard after, and that it overtake him speedily.”

Ananias shook his head. “ Thou knowest not what thou art saying, friend. God’s ways are not man’s ways, nor are his thoughts their thoughts. There is something here that we do not understand.”

“ If he be smitten that he die, then shall we live — we and our little ones,” said Simon obstinately. “Therefore shall I continue to pray to God to remove him out of the land of the living. Surely he hath deserved to die.”

“ Pray, rather, that God’s will may be done concern¬ ing the man and us. Even should he rend my child from my bosom I could not pray for his undoing. Vengeance belongeth to the Lord, and in his hand

also is the breath of every living thing.”

PAUL.

“ Pray as thou wilt, friend,” said Simon, rising, “ and I will pray, even as did David, for the destruction of mine enemies. The Lord heard him and gave him his desire upon them that sought his hurt, as thou mayst read in the Psalms. P'arewell ; Jehovah keep thee and thine.”

Ananias seemed hardly to have heard the parting words of his guest ; he also had risen and was walking slowly up and down. His heart had grown heavy within him, and it was heavier still as he saw his wife approaching from the adjoining roof-terrace.

‘‘Our son sleeps, my lord,” she said, with a low laugh of content. “Thou shouldst have heard him pray to the ascended One ; he repeated the prayer that thou didst teach him, and afterward, ‘ Good Jesus, let not the wind from the desert blow to-morrow. Amen/ I could not chide him, and to-morrow the wind will continue to set from Lebanon, thou wilt see ; for I believe that the Ascended heeds the little ones whom he so loved when he was on earth.”

“ Teach him, then, to pray that our faith be not shaken,” said Ananias with a sigh.

“Assuredly, that is a good thing to ask. But what said our friend Simon of his journey ? And why hath he made such haste to be gone ? I would fain have heard of the wondrous sights he beheld in Jerusalem.”

“ He brought tidings of evil, heart of mine. The brethren which dwell at Jerusalem are suffering many things at the hand of them which believe not, scourg¬ ing, imprisonment, and even death.”

THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP.

The woman shuddered. “ Nay, then, I am glad that we do not dwell there,” she said quickly. “ It is a wicked city and doubtless the vengeance of Jehovah will yet overtake it, even as Sodom perished at his word. But come, my lord, let us sup, for the hour grows late. I had the intent to have bidden our neighbor also, for to-night we shall taste the first of the white figs from the young tree by the fountain. TJiey are fine, I can promise thee ; I plucked them myself.”

“ Go thou and eat, little one ; I shall fast to-night for the peace of the brethren,” said Ananias, turning away his head.

“ And what will it profit them, my lord, if thou dost fast? Wilt thou not eat of my figs even?” and the woman laid her hand persuasively on her husband’s arm.

He looked down at her with a melancholy smile. “ Dost thou love me, rose of Lebanon ?”

“ What shall I answer thee, my lord ? I love thee even as the thirsty earth loveth the streams which flow down from the mountain ; the desert laughs aloud because of the abundance of waters.”

“ ’Tis well, life of mine. Go thou and rest in peace ; but as for me, I must fast and pray this night, both for the brethren that be in peril, and also for our own souls that they faint not in the hour of trial.”

The woman looked at him, her eyes misty with vague alarms. “ Let me fast with thee, my lord. I also will pray.”

PAUL.

“ Nay, I would be alone. Go.”

She lingered yet a moment, looking wistfully at the averted face, then she turned swiftly and went away, but not before an angry little sob had escaped her.

Ananias aroused himself at the sound. “ I must have spoken roughly to the child,” he murmured peni¬ tently. “What if I tell her all — but no, I cannot. To-morrow I will look into the matter further, and if a persecution be imminent I will send her away into the mountains together with my son ; they will be safe there.” Then he fell again into a reverie, but this time his thoughts busied themselves with the day when he had first seen the rose of Lebanon, blooming in a remote nook of the barren hills, and of how, saddened and grown old before his time, he had plucked the flower to fill his desolate home with fragrance and beauty. “ Nay, my God, I cannot again suffer as I have suffered,” he said aloud, clenching his strong hands. “ I will die for the faith if need be, but spare thou these.”

The long hours of the summer night crept slowly by, the slender young moon, shamed by the golden radiance of the thronging stars, hid herself behind the rim of the desert. The breath of roses floated spirit-like on the breeze, and in the silence the voice of myriads of fountains cried aloud, the small silver tinkle of the jets about the basin below, the gush and babble of water-wheels in the neighboring gardens, and above all dominated the solemn murmur of the river, Barada, mother of all the waters. “ From the

THE VISION ON THE HOUSETOP .

eternal snows I come, to the unchanging desert I go : there is no variableness, neither shadow of change in the God that hath set my course.”

To the man, who still watched and prayed on the housetop, there came at length peace. He knew that the Lord had heard him, and that the blessing was not far away, that it was even at hand — as was also the day, for all the snowy heights of Hermon were flushed with heavenly color. He wrapped himself in his man¬ tle and lay down, and immediately a deep sleep fell softly upon him. As he slept, it seemed presently that the roseate glimmer of the dawn had deepened and brightened into a splendor of light ; in the midst of the light he saw the figure of a man, a man into whose face he looked with awe and yet with an over¬ whelming sense of joy and love, for it was the face of his ascended Lord.

Then was there the sound of a voice, it called him by his name. He made answer, saying, “ Behold, I am here, Lord.”

Again came the voice and these were the words of it : “ Arise, go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus ; for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”

To Ananias it seemed that without fear he answered of all that was within his heart, “ Lord, I have heard of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints

PAUL.

at Jerusalem, and now he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.”

But the Lord said unto him, “ Go thy way : for he is my chosen herald, to proclaim my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel : and I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Then the glory faded, Ananias awoke, and behold, it was day.

IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS.

Chapter II. In The House Of Judas

nn IS a strange case, and most untoward, I would A gladly have aided the holy council of Jeru¬ salem in suppressing this deadly heresy ; but in a heathen city and unsupported by outside authority, what could we do ? If the man do not speedily re¬ cover his wits, we must report the matter.”

“Thinkest thou that he will recover?”

Judas shrugged his shoulders. “ Nay, how can I tell ? There was a light, sayest thou ? Lightning perchance, and yet how could that be out of a cloud¬ less heaven ?”

“There was a light,” said the other vehemently; “ I myself saw it, as did the others of our company ; there was also a sound, as of a voice — a terrible voice, but the sound was void of meaning.”

A slight incredulous smile flitted across the atten¬ tive face of his listener. “ If there chanced to be a cloud overhead, we should say that the sound was thunder.”

“There was no cloud, I tell thee,” said the other hotly. “ The heavens were as clear as they are at this moment.”

“Well, what was it then?”

PA UL.

The man, who was called Silas Ben Ezra, dropped his eyes in silence, seemingly intent on nothing more important than the pattern of the rich Persian carpet beneath his feet.

“ It is evident that thou hast an opinion, friend,” continued Judas. “ Come, explain the matter accord¬ ing to thy thought concerning it, thou wast an eye¬ witness.’”

Ben Ezra raised his head and looked squarely into the face of his host. “ I will tell thee what I think hath befallen the man,” he said, and there was a shade of defiance in his low tones. “ He beheld the cruci¬ fied Nazarene and was rebuked of him.”

“What sayest thou?” cried Judas angrily. “Art thou also apostate, who wert chosen by the holy San¬ hedrim to perform this sacred mission?”

“ If it be heresy to believe the evidence of one’s senses then am I apostate,” declared the other boldly. “ Saul answered the voice ; twice answered he and after this manner ; first he cried out as one greatly astonished and afraid, ‘ Who art thou, Lord ?’ And afterward, ‘What wilt thou have me to do?’ ”

“The man was crazed by the heat,” said Judas, with an easy wave of the hand. “ ’Tis no less than the act of a fool to travel at midday in this clime.”

Ben Ezra’s black eyes flashed angrily. “ Think as thou wilt, my worshipful host,” he said coldly. “And I also, who was eye-witness, will hold to mine own opinion of the matter.”

“Nay, but — friend,” said Judas softly, “hast thou m THE HOUSE OE JUDAS.

duly weighed and considered the matter aright ? Thou hast as yet spoken of this to no other save myself ; but and if thou shalt return to Jerusalem and say to the most holy and reverend high priest, Saul hath had a vision of the Nazarene whom ye lately slew, and hath been smitten with blindness because of his glory, what then will befall thee ? Will it not be better to say, Saul was smitten with the fierce heat of the sun, insomuch that he fell to the earth blind and senseless ; for because of his zeal in thy service he was traveling at midday. . If it was in truth a vision, then let the man declare it for himself, and bear the consequences thereof — that is, if ever he recover his lost wits, which I myself doubt.”

Ben Ezra stroked his beard in silence for a time, then he said slowly, “ Thou hast spoken words of wisdom ; and I have heard and understood ; also it is an evil thing to be an apostate, and a foolish thing to interpret a vision which hath appeared to another. For the present I will not return to the Sanhedrim. The others of the company may report the matter as seemeth best to them.”

“ As to the man himself,” pursued Judas, “ if indeed he be mad, or if an unclean spirit hath entered in and taken possession of him, he must needs go forth into the desert ; so shall he recover himself, if it be the will of Jehovah.”

“ Thou wouldst not thrust him forth, blind and help¬ less as he is !” said Ben Ezra, aghast.

“ If Jehovah hath smitten him, or if the evil one r

PAUL, hath obtained the mastery over him, it signifieth one and the same thing according to the law,” said the other judicially. “ He hath gravely sinned, and it ill becometh man to strive against unseen powers ; besides all this, he that hath disordered wits is unclean and polluteth the house of a righteous man. — How now, Malluch ! What wouldst thou ?”

“ I kiss thy feet, most worshipful master,” replied the slave, who had noiselessly entered the apartment. “There is a man without who desires entrance, one Ananias, a Jew. He would see Saul of Tarsus.”

“Admit him at once, and conduct him to our pres¬ ence ; I would fain know his errand with the man.”

The slave bowed himself before his master and with¬ drew, to return a moment later followed by a man, upon whom both Judas and Ben Ezra fixed their eyes with some curiosity.

“Greetings, friend,” said Judas, “thou art known unto me by reputation as one that is zealous for the law and also for the peace of Israel ; I am glad, there¬ fore, that thou hast sought my dwelling. Most wel¬ come in these troublous times is the converse of holy men.”

Ananias bowed his head courteously in response to these greetings. “ My errand is with one Saul of Tar¬ sus, who is abiding under this roof,” he said gravely. “ I pray you to conduct me without delay into his presence.”

“ Thou art not aware, then, that the worshipful rabbi met with a lamentable mischance on his journey

IN THE HOUSE OF JUDAS.

hither,” replied Judas suavely. “ He hath continually remained upon his bed, neither eating nor drinking, nor holding converse with any man since he arrived in Damascus, this being also the third day. I myself have visited him a score of times and have sent for divers wise men and physicians. Some hold that he hath been smitten by the power of the sun, others that an evil spirit has entered into him ; for myself I know not what to think, but I am the more grieved concern¬ ing the matter, since the man had come hither on a most godly errand, that of purging the synagogues of Damascus of them that blasphemously declare a cer¬ tain Galilean, named Jesus — lately crucified in Jeru¬ salem because of his crimes — to be the Christ foretold of the Prophets.”

The sensitive face of Ananias flushed and his eyes burned with righteous anger. “ Beware, lest thou also ignorantly fall into the grievous sin of blasphemy,” he said sternly. “ Because thou hast not known the Christ, thou mayst be forgiven ; but I have both seen him and know him ; and I know furthermore that that which I declare unto you is true, Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God, the Savior of Israel, whom also with murderous hands the chief priests and elders at Jerusalem put to death. But, thanks be to Jehovah, he hath overcome the grave and is set down at the right hand of eternal power. It was this living Jesus that appeared unto the man Saul by the way, when he would have brought chains and death into Damascus to them that believe. And behold, I am sent unto

PAUL him to deliver him out of his blindness, and to declare unto him the word of peace. Make haste, therefore, and show me where he lieth.”

Judas regarded the speaker with open disdain. “ It is sad indeed to see a righteous man the victim of such an unlawful and unholy delusion,” he said icily. “ If there be many such in Damascus, the wisdom of the Sanhedrim of Jerusalem is abundantly proven. I only regret that their erstwhile able emissary hath been prevented from performing his duty. In the mean¬ time I will conduct thee to the chamber of the stricken man, if only to prove that thou art miserably deceived. As I have declared to you, the man hath been blind and dumb for three days.”

“ So likewise did the Christ remain during three days in the tomb, and on the third day he arose into newness of life,” murmured Ananias as if to himself.