The two found their way to a small assembly house off the forum where Stephanas was waiting for them. He was wrapped in a threadbare robe and a tangled beard covered his face. His eyes were kindly, but solemn. Old Nicholas beamed with excitement at seeing his former overseer. He said to young Nicholas, “Stephanas was one of the first to teach me in the Way of Christus. You can learn much from him.”
Stephanas replied, “It is a blessing to see you again, brother.” Most everything Stephanas said seemed to be a blessing or a prayer, such as, “I pray your journey went well.” Or, “The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful day.”
Stephanas happily led them around the city, showing them the places where Christus Iesus was known to have walked. Most of the places no longer resembled the stories Nicholas had read. The Roman army had been very thorough in changing the face of the city. The more Nicholas saw of the places where Christus once walked, the more removed he felt.
Where the Jewish temple once stood, there now stood a temple to Zeus, so they could only look on from a distance at the place Iesus once called his Father’s house. When old Nicholas sighed that it was a pity they could not actually set foot there, young Nicholas said, “It’s a public temple. We’re free to walk into the court.”
Stephanas shook his head with a frown. Old Nicholas explained, “We would be seen as coming to honor Zeus. We want no reason for misunderstanding.”
Young Nicholas said, “We could just say we’ve come to look.”
Old Nicholas said, “We would be expected to offer incense to Zeus. When we do not, we would be inviting trouble.”
“Yes,” said Stephanas. “We’ve had our share of incidents. I’m blessed that you are ready to honor Christus with your blood, but there is no need to ask for trouble.”
Nicholas shrugged. He didn’t see the importance of setting foot there anyway, certainly not on pain of death. As they lingered to gaze over the courtyard, three men down the street caught his eye. They too were gazing at the temple. One of them seemed to bow his head in prayer. Nicholas wondered if they might be Christiani. The more he looked at them, the more familiar they seemed. Nicholas asked his uncle, “Those three men, where have we met them before?” Then it came to him, “The ship! Those are the three Jews from the ship.”
His uncle shushed him. “Not so loud. If they’re found anywhere near this city, they would be killed.”
Stephanas replied, “It is a blessing to see you again, brother.” Most everything Stephanas said seemed to be a blessing or a prayer, such as, “I pray your journey went well.” Or, “The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful day.”
Stephanas happily led them around the city, showing them the places where Christus Iesus was known to have walked. Most of the places no longer resembled the stories Nicholas had read. The Roman army had been very thorough in changing the face of the city. The more Nicholas saw of the places where Christus once walked, the more removed he felt.
Where the Jewish temple once stood, there now stood a temple to Zeus, so they could only look on from a distance at the place Iesus once called his Father’s house. When old Nicholas sighed that it was a pity they could not actually set foot there, young Nicholas said, “It’s a public temple. We’re free to walk into the court.”
Stephanas shook his head with a frown. Old Nicholas explained, “We would be seen as coming to honor Zeus. We want no reason for misunderstanding.”
Young Nicholas said, “We could just say we’ve come to look.”
Old Nicholas said, “We would be expected to offer incense to Zeus. When we do not, we would be inviting trouble.”
“Yes,” said Stephanas. “We’ve had our share of incidents. I’m blessed that you are ready to honor Christus with your blood, but there is no need to ask for trouble.”
Nicholas shrugged. He didn’t see the importance of setting foot there anyway, certainly not on pain of death. As they lingered to gaze over the courtyard, three men down the street caught his eye. They too were gazing at the temple. One of them seemed to bow his head in prayer. Nicholas wondered if they might be Christiani. The more he looked at them, the more familiar they seemed. Nicholas asked his uncle, “Those three men, where have we met them before?” Then it came to him, “The ship! Those are the three Jews from the ship.”
His uncle shushed him. “Not so loud. If they’re found anywhere near this city, they would be killed.”
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