"There is unquestioned and open partiality on the part of the apostles toward them that be of Hebrew birth and descent," said one bitterly. "Though we be circumcised and walk after the law in all diligence, the fact that we are Greeks can be neither overlooked nor forgiven."
"I mind not what they think;" cried another sturdily, "a Greek is as good as a Jew any day, and we be all servants of one Master, even Christ; but it is not just that our widows and fatherless be neglected in the daily distributions, for we have all given freely of our substance into the common fund."
"I like not to boast, my Andronicus," said the third man almost in a whisper, "but I cannot forbear the thought that had I retained in mine own power what I aforetime laid down at the apostles' feet--freely and in all humility5 of mind, these tales of neglect would not now be coming to our ears."
None of the three had observed that a fourth man had joined himself to the group, till the newcomer spoke6. "The neglect of which thou dost complain, my brothers," he said in a deep musical voice, "is not a neglect born of contempt for us because we are Greeks. I know these men through and through; they rest not day nor night, but labor7 incessantly8, and in all unselfishness and love for the church, yet is the burden too heavy for them. Christ healed many that were sick and fed many that were hungry. Yet there remain multitudes of them that are blind, of them that are lepers, of them that hunger, who were also blind, leprous, and hungry, when our Master walked the earth. They came not unto him, and how could he succor9 them, being burdened with this humanity which doth irk us all?"
"What thou hast said, my Stephen, is true," admitted Andronicus. "But it is also true that among the Jewish widows there is no lack, while Priscilla and her little ones remained two days without food. Had she refrained from joining herself to us, she would have continued to receive aid from the Temple treasury10; the woman herself declared it, and I could not gainsay11 her had I wished it. If there be not neglect born of contempt, there is assuredly a lack of wisdom."
"What hath been done for Priscilla?"
"My wife ministered to her necessities, as well as to those of Julia and Eunice."
"Hast thou spoken of this to Peter?" asked Stephen, looking troubled and turning to one of the others.
"Nay12, I have not spoken of it; there should be no need to speak, say I."
"Forget not the word of the Master, 'Judge not that ye be not judged,' said Stephen, gravely. "We must look carefully within before we lightly censure13 any man--least of all the chosen and anointed ones of our Lord." Then after a thoughtful pause he added, "I will myself speak with John concerning these things."
The man who had first spoken, and who was called Apelles, looked after him as he walked away. "From him I can suffer reproof14 as from no other;" he said, "he hath within him the very spirit of the ascended15 One."
"Like the ascended One, he hath also enemies in high places;" said Andronicus, significantly, "the continued attempts made upon his life bear witness to the fact."
"What dost thou mean? He was threatened, it is true, by certain of the Sadducees because of his boldness in declaring the resurrection in their very midst, but no man laid hands on him."
"The Herodians, and especially the Pharisee from Tarsus, are bitter against him for some reason, which perhaps we understand not wholly. Hast thou forgotten his rescue by Ben Hesed more than two years ago; and also what happened thrice since--when by the barest chance he escaped with his life?"
"True, he has been mercifully preserved amidst great dangers; but each time there was a simple enough cause for the peril17 without attributing it to an enemy," said Apelles, thoughtfully. "Once it was from robbers, who would have slain18 him from the mere19 lust20 of murder, as is their wont21. Again, a heavy stone fell from the wall above as he spake to the people, barely missing his head in its descent."
"Yes; I know all that thou wouldst say;" broke in the other, "but listen! Yesterday a basket of fruit was sent him, bearing a scroll22 inscribed23 thus: 'This fruit is for the saintly Stephen, from one who believes that the apples of Paradise are none too fair for such as he.'"
"A pretty conceit24 assuredly!"
"A most lovely conceit! Had he eaten, as the sender supposed that he would do, even now would the apples of Paradise be within his grasp."
"What meanest thou?"
"'I will not eat of this fair fruit,' said Stephen, 'instead I will bear it to the aged25 Clement26, who hath only of late joined himself to us,' but while he waited for a convenient season for taking the gift, the fruit stood without on the ledge27 of the window, and the birds came and pecked it. Before they could fly away after their stolen meal the little creatures dropped dead."
"Horror! the fruit was poisoned then?"
"Assuredly. Now thou seest that he hath an enemy."
"But who?"
"I have my suspicions, and have warned him. His answer was this, 'He is with me alway even unto the end; until my appointed time there is nothing that shall be able to hurt me; neither shall I fear what man can do to me.'"
"Wonderful! I have confessed that Jesus is the Christ, but I fear me my faith in him is but a poor thing compared with that of Stephen; had the like happened to me I should have fled the city."
"'Twas what I urged upon him. Go away from Jerusalem, I said. There be Jews in every city of Greece who would gladly hear thee of the Christ; in the land of thy fathers shalt thou dwell in safety. But he shook his head. 'The day is not far distant,' he made answer, 'when not alone to the Jews shall this salvation28 be preached, but unto every people and kindred and tongue beneath the heavens; for Christ came to save the world, and therefore shall the world be saved; but it is not I who am called to this work; my place is here.'"
While the two Greeks thus spoke one to another of Stephen, the young man himself was passing rapidly through the streets towards his home, his thoughts busied chiefly with what Andronicus had told him concerning the daily ministrations. "The matter must be looked to," he said to himself. "The twelve are not sufficient for the work, God be praised. So mightily29 hath the spirit worked with and for us, that the day is not far distant when the cross shall cease to be a symbol of shame and hissing30 among men and shall everywhere be hailed the sacred token of deliverance."
Communing thus within himself he lifted up his eyes and beheld31 the square which lay before the palace of Pilate. "It was here," he murmured, "that they brought him on the day of his death. It was here that the people cried out 'Crucify him--Crucify him!' Ah, that awful day--nay rather that day of days, decreed from the foundations of the world!" Then he passed on into the square, being minded to look for a moment on the very place where he knew the Man of Sorrows had stood so patiently on that last day of his earthly life. As he approached the mosaic32 of many-colored marbles which marked the place of the judgment33 seat, a Roman chariot containing two men and drawn34 by a pair of powerful black horses dashed into the square.
"Dost see that fellow yonder, Herod?" exclaimed the man who stood behind the driver. "I mean the one with the white robe. 'Tis that beggarly Greek, Stephen, who hath been setting the city on an uproar35 of late with his driveling cant16. I hate the whole blasphemous36 brood, but he is most contemptible37 of all."
"I will engage to run him down, if thou sayest it," said the man who held the reins38, and across whose white tunic39 streamed a scarf of the imperial purple.
"Be it so!" answered his companion with a malignant40 scowl41. "'Twill be a happy accident that rids the world of such an one."
"An accident of course," said the other with a brutal42 laugh. "Who would dare question it?" And he brought the long lash43 with a whistling curl about the glossy44 flanks of the horses; they leapt forward as one. Something else also leapt forward. There was a cry, and the sound of the iron hoofs45 was horribly dulled for an instant, then the chariot thundered on, and swept into the avenue beyond the palace.
"By the gods, Alexander!" cried Herod. "Didst see the man who leapt forward from behind? He dragged the beggar forth46 just in time; another instant and he would have been crushed beneath our wheels."
"I saw, yes," answered the other, grinding his teeth. "The wretch47 bears a charmed life."
"We will drive back to inquire of the accident," pursued Herod with a sneering48 laugh. "Pollux there struck something softer than the pavement. Hey! Pollux, my beauty? If it chanced to be the man's head he will prate49 no more of dead malefactors--nor yet of live ones. How now, fellow!" he shouted, reining50 in his struggling horses as they approached the borders of the crowd which had instantly gathered at the scene of the accident. "Was the man hurt seriously?"
"Not seriously, they say, your Highness," replied the man to whom he had spoken, bowing low at sight of his royal questioner; "but the stranger who rescued him hath beyond doubt suffered a mortal wound."
"The more fool he!" cried Herod contemptuously. As the horses again sprang forward in obedience51 to the lash, he turned to his companion with a wicked laugh. "'Twere a pretty pastime for our leisure to root out these pestiferous fellows from the Holy City, and 'twould doubtless cover a multitude of sins."
"May we count on thine assistance, my prince?" said Alexander eagerly. "We who are against the Nazarenes grow fewer each day; already the greater number of Pharisees either believe or regard them with tolerance52. These all declare openly that the dead carpenter of Galilee is alive and is like to return any day to rule over Israel."
Herod's face darkened. "Let him return and attempt it!" he cried angrily. "Behind me--is Rome."
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1
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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7
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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31
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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32
mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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40
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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41
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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43
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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44
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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45
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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47
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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48
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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49
prate
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| v.瞎扯，胡说 | |
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50
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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51
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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52
tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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