Luke's Story (13 page)
Authors: Tim Lahaye 7 Jerry B. Jenkins
Luke, like the others, had heard enough. How much more was needed to persuade Paul to end this suicidal mission? He and the other associates pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Paul listened passively, and when they were finished, he said, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Luke had to admit that none of the prophecies said the Spirit was telling Paul not to proceed. They merely foretold what would happen to him. So when he would not be persuaded, they ceased their pleading, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
AFTER THOSE DAYS they packed and went to Jerusalem along with some of the disciples from Caesarea. The brethren of Jerusalem received them gladly, and Paul greeted them and told in detail those things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. They said, “Many myriads of Jews have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. In this way all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
“But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
Paul did as they had said, and the next day, having been purified with the four men, entered the td bound a Roman citizen.
THE NEXT DAY, the commander released Paul from his bonds and set him before the chief priests and their council. Paul said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
The high priest commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Paul said, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
Those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”
Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written,
‘
You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
‘
You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
But Paul later told Luke he perceived some of the council were Sadducees and others Pharisees, so he cried out, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
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.”
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 have 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.”
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