death a few years ago?”
“I have.”
“This is the same James who, as the brother of Jesus, denied that Jesus was the Messiah, was embarrassed by Him. Then, later, this same James gave his life because of that belief, willingly died for the notion that one of his family members is God. You have to ask yourself what it would take for a man to change his mind like that. I’ll answer that for you. James saw his brother resurrected. What gave Jesus’ disciples the power to withstand jail and death threats and even death, when they acted like frightened rabbits the night of His trial? The same answer. They met Jesus after His resurrection,” Zabad concluded.
Helius spoke to Caleb. “I suggest you find a different matter to argue than the Resurrection. I also suggest you do a better job of it than you have so far.”
If the rebuke stung Caleb, he didn’t show it. “Of course. I had all of the previous evening to read the eyewitness accounts of the man and His teachings. I will show that by His very words, this Jesus of Nazareth proved Himself to be a false prophet.”
Hora Sexta
A hush of expectation fell on the crowd in the amphitheater. They knew the lions were next.
To Leah, the hush seemed almost supernatural. There were fifty thousand spectators, and the silence was so complete it was as if all had decided to hold their breath.
Into this clear silence came the echoing clang of iron gates flung open.
Leah’s soul groaned with agony. She’d never been at the games before, but she knew what that sound meant. Her tremulous fear was proven correct when suddenly the first men and women were pushed out onto the sand. Then more. And more. Nearly two dozen in all.
No cheers.
No roars.
Only the predatory joy that came from watching the Christians stumble across the sand, dressed in the hides of zebras and antelopes.
After their long imprisonment, the sunlight was too much for them. Each, without fail, flung hands across their eyes and moved blindly. Some stood tall and sucked in clean air, as if determined to enjoy, for the last minutes of their lives, the simple luxury of sunshine against skin.
Leah saw her brother, of course. He stood the tallest, and several of the women had gathered behind him as if he could provide protection against the inevitable.
As they regained their bearings, the people began to cluster, forming a compact mass.
It was still silent, and the roars of anger that came from the bestiarius reached clearly into the stands. He was standing at one of the dark openings into the tunnels beneath the stands, yelling at the Christians.
Spectators began to murmur.
But Leah knew the reason for the rage of the bestiarius. Her brother and the men and women with him were doing the one thing that would delay a lion’s attack.
Despite the murmurs, there was still an atmosphere of expectation, the tension of it like a physical presence exerting a force on the crowd. Then came more clanking of iron bars.
The lions had been released.
The city guards reached Aristarchus, with Vitas ten paces behind, the same distance he’d kept as he followed them through Smyrna.
“Who is this?” Aristarchus demanded, pointing at Vitas.
Vitas ignored him. The slaves had stopped in front of the gates that led to the villa, and Vitas did not want them to move into the courtyard, where he would no longer be able to follow.
“Take the litter to the house,” Vitas commanded the slaves. He spoke harshly to Sophia. “And, you, ensure that the woman inside the litter is comfortable; then send for a doctor.”
Aristarchus was apparently so astounded, it took him several moments to find his voice. And when he finally did speak, he squeaked with outrage. “Those are my slaves! How dare you give them orders.”
“How rude of me,” Vitas said, smiling broadly. He’d had the entire journey here to think through his next actions. “Did I actually forget to purchase them from you first?”
“Of course you did not
“I have.”
“This is the same James who, as the brother of Jesus, denied that Jesus was the Messiah, was embarrassed by Him. Then, later, this same James gave his life because of that belief, willingly died for the notion that one of his family members is God. You have to ask yourself what it would take for a man to change his mind like that. I’ll answer that for you. James saw his brother resurrected. What gave Jesus’ disciples the power to withstand jail and death threats and even death, when they acted like frightened rabbits the night of His trial? The same answer. They met Jesus after His resurrection,” Zabad concluded.
Helius spoke to Caleb. “I suggest you find a different matter to argue than the Resurrection. I also suggest you do a better job of it than you have so far.”
If the rebuke stung Caleb, he didn’t show it. “Of course. I had all of the previous evening to read the eyewitness accounts of the man and His teachings. I will show that by His very words, this Jesus of Nazareth proved Himself to be a false prophet.”
Hora Sexta
A hush of expectation fell on the crowd in the amphitheater. They knew the lions were next.
To Leah, the hush seemed almost supernatural. There were fifty thousand spectators, and the silence was so complete it was as if all had decided to hold their breath.
Into this clear silence came the echoing clang of iron gates flung open.
Leah’s soul groaned with agony. She’d never been at the games before, but she knew what that sound meant. Her tremulous fear was proven correct when suddenly the first men and women were pushed out onto the sand. Then more. And more. Nearly two dozen in all.
No cheers.
No roars.
Only the predatory joy that came from watching the Christians stumble across the sand, dressed in the hides of zebras and antelopes.
After their long imprisonment, the sunlight was too much for them. Each, without fail, flung hands across their eyes and moved blindly. Some stood tall and sucked in clean air, as if determined to enjoy, for the last minutes of their lives, the simple luxury of sunshine against skin.
Leah saw her brother, of course. He stood the tallest, and several of the women had gathered behind him as if he could provide protection against the inevitable.
As they regained their bearings, the people began to cluster, forming a compact mass.
It was still silent, and the roars of anger that came from the bestiarius reached clearly into the stands. He was standing at one of the dark openings into the tunnels beneath the stands, yelling at the Christians.
Spectators began to murmur.
But Leah knew the reason for the rage of the bestiarius. Her brother and the men and women with him were doing the one thing that would delay a lion’s attack.
Despite the murmurs, there was still an atmosphere of expectation, the tension of it like a physical presence exerting a force on the crowd. Then came more clanking of iron bars.
The lions had been released.
The city guards reached Aristarchus, with Vitas ten paces behind, the same distance he’d kept as he followed them through Smyrna.
“Who is this?” Aristarchus demanded, pointing at Vitas.
Vitas ignored him. The slaves had stopped in front of the gates that led to the villa, and Vitas did not want them to move into the courtyard, where he would no longer be able to follow.
“Take the litter to the house,” Vitas commanded the slaves. He spoke harshly to Sophia. “And, you, ensure that the woman inside the litter is comfortable; then send for a doctor.”
Aristarchus was apparently so astounded, it took him several moments to find his voice. And when he finally did speak, he squeaked with outrage. “Those are my slaves! How dare you give them orders.”
“How rude of me,” Vitas said, smiling broadly. He’d had the entire journey here to think through his next actions. “Did I actually forget to purchase them from you first?”
“Of course you did not
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