SAUL OPPOSES THE DISCIPLES CHAPTER TWENTY THREE- Page 2

MORNING AFTER MORNING when Esrom and Miriam would come from their room, they would find Saul had already left the house. Often he would return late in the evening when Esrom and Miriam had already retired.

"I am not certain," said Esrom, "if he is deliberately avoiding us, or if he is keeping long hours in duties assigned by the high priest. We have exchanged very few words of late. And when we do meet, he seems terribly tense. I know the testimony of Peter and John at the Sanhedrin disturbed not only the priests, but Saul also. What is even more discomforting to them is the fact the disciples now minister openly, teaching the people and praying for the sick in the streets. The roads leading into the city are often filled with people bringing their sick and infirm to the disciples. I know Caiaphas and Annas are not going to remain idle indefinitely. If they do not act quickly, it seems that the entire city and community of people are going to be won to the disciples."

Esrom's comments proved correct. One evening on his arrival at the Temple, he learned the disciples were no longer there. He was told that the priests that afternoon had sent the Temple Guards to arrest the disciples and place them in the common prison.

That evening in the home of Caiaphas, Saul sat with other advisors of his inner circle. The high priest paced the floor. "They openly defy us," he said. "And because of these supposed miracle cures, the people accept this as a sign that God is confirming their word. They are telling the masses that Jesus said if they would give the people God's true message of love and forgiveness, he would forgive their sins and heal their diseases, and they even quote David of old, saying that he believed what they now say. They claim that Jesus said, when giving them his instructions, that they should proclaim his word and the sick would be healed."

Saul spoke up. "If they don't respect your words, they might pay more heed to the whipping post. You could at least give them one more warning, with a reminder that the next offense of proclaiming this message of Jesus will mean certain punishment."

Content with that advice, Caiaphas ordered the disciples brought from the prison. Moments later a guard hurried into the Council, exclaiming loudly, "We arrived at the prison. They are not there! "

The Council turned into a state of confusion. "Call the captain of the guard!" the high priest ordered, above the din of almost 70 voices in the Council.

"He is here!" replied the guard. "He was with us when we went to bring the men."

"Quiet!" shouted Annas. And addressing the captain of the guard, he asked, "Give us a complete report on what has happened."

"When we arrived at the prison," the captain began, "we were totally unaware that anything unusual had taken place. The sentries at the door were standing alert, and in their rightful posts. The prison doors were all locked securely, as they were when the prisoners were admitted last evening. When we went to the cells where the prisoners had been placed, we found them empty. No one is more amazed and shocked than we are ourselves."

"So what is your explanation for their mysterious escape?" The voice of Annas echoed with anger and sarcasm.

"It must have been an angel that released them," said the guard.

"Angels! Angels! Angels, at the tomb, and a missing body of Jesus! Now more angels at the prison releasing the prisoners. I think angels are becoming the excuse for soldiers who neglect their duties!"
Before Annas could utter another word, a messenger arrived at the door of the Council chamber, and stated in a loud whisper, "They are in the Temple. The disciples are in the Temple!"

"They are in the Temple," Caiaphas repeated aloud. "Peter and John are in the Temple! They are there teaching the people, and a great crowd is listening."

Annas looked at his son-in-law Caiaphas, awaiting his verdict.

Caiaphas stood, his head bowed as though searching for an answer to this new challenge. His hands were twitching nervously. Lifting his head suddenly, Caiaphas asked, "Is there no end to their defiance? We have no recourse other than to call them again, and threaten them with more severe treatment." Ordering the guard to bring Peter and John, he said, "You might do well to take extra reinforcements with you. The crowd is large and in total sympathy with the followers of Jesus. However, as much as it grieves me to say this, treat the prisoners respectfully because of the crowd."

The captain of the guard nodded knowingly. "If we handled them roughly, "he replied under his breath, "the people would stone us."

As soon as the disciples were brought before the Council, the High Priest asked, "Did we not command you not to teach any more in the name of Jesus? Now you are filling all of Jerusalem with your message, and blaming us for Jesus' death."

"We ought to obey God rather than men," Peter replied. "God has raised up Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on the cross. God has exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him."

Hearing this, an angry stir rippled through the council. "They deserve to die for this!" shouted one. "Slay them! Slay them!" echoed others.

Caiaphas looked in the direction of Gamaliel. It was apparent he was not among those clamoring for the death of the disciples. Old Gamaliel motioned to the High Priest that he would like to speak.
After several futile attempts to restore order, the High Priest said, "The Honorable Gamaliel wishes to speak." A hush finally settled over the assembly, for everyone did respect Gamaliel.
"First I would like the guard to remove the accused from our midst," Gamaliel said. Reflecting an attitude of patience, he seated himself calmly until Peter and John had been escorted from the Council room. "Men of Israel," Gamaliel began.

Caiaphas thought to himself, he is very wise to address them in such a respectful manner.
"Men of Israel, I would like to offer a word of caution as to how you treat these men. We must not give way to our emotions and make some rash decisions, and do something that we would regret."
With careful working, the esteemed Doctor of the Law recited examples of notorious characters who had led rebellions in Judea, and had perished in their attempt. He reminded them that these, such as one named Theudas, and another named Judas, were killed, and in both instances all their followers were scattered.

"So," interjected Caiaphas coldly, "what do you recommend we do to these men?"
"If what they teach and do is merely on their own," Gamaliel answered, "it will collapse. Their followers will scatter, and this entire movement will disappear. But, if it is of God, you will not be able to stop it. You can stop men, but you cannot stop God. There have been miracles that we cannot ignore or deny. I personally would suggest that we be cautious, lest we find ourselves fighting not men, but God."

The members of the Council looked at Caiaphas, who shook his head in disagreement. His father-in-law Annas leaned over and whispered, "We can't let these disciples go without some sort of punishment. I recommend you make a motion to the Council that they at least be flogged before they are released."

Saul nodded in agreement.

Avoiding the gaze of Gamaliel, Caiaphas said haltingly, "I move . . . that we sentence these followers of Jesus to the whipping post, to impress them that we are most serious that they remain silent in this city, and not make further mention of the doctrine of Jesus."

While the majority accepted the motion made by Caiaphas, a number also felt Gamaliel had spoken the truth. The disciples were stripped to the waist and brought to the whipping post. There, the one administering the lash, according to Jewish law, laid thirteen stripes across each shoulder, and thirteen across the victim's chest.

Peter and John could not help but think of Jesus, who not many days ago took a Roman beating, far more painful and devastating. They sensed what he might have felt in being rejected by the religious power of his own people.

Esrom recounted the entire scene to Miriam later that day.

"And could you see the disciples of Jesus after they were flogged?" she asked.
"Yes, and perhaps you won't believe it, Miriam, but they left the Council praising God that they were worthy to suffer for the sake of their Master. They were already planning their next meetings in the homes of believers, and also back at the Temple."

"I wonder," said Miriam, "what Saul's reaction to all of this is?"

"I saw his old teacher Gamaliel walking toward Saul, and noticed when leaving that they were deeply engrossed in conversation," Esrom answered. "In fact, as I left the Temple Gamaliel and Saul were also leaving together, and I would not be surprised that they may have continued their discussion. It would be interesting to know what was said."