"I have the witnesses, my lord; but there was no small difficulty in persuading any man to serve. A score refused outright1, reviling2 me moreover and threatening me with death should I dare to molest3 the fellow. I placated4 them as best I was able, saying that I but desired to assure myself that the reports which I had heard against so excellent a man were false. Yet do I fear that these may fetch him word so that he will escape out of our hands."
"He shall not escape. What witnesses hast thou?"
"One Esek--a money lender--who for the sum of ten shekels of silver hath consented to witness; and with him two of mine own underlings, who will speak that which is put into their mouths with all diligence, both on account of the reward which I have promised if they shall acquit5 themselves well, and because of the scourging6 which awaits them should they fail. One of them is Iddo Ben Obed--a young man of some promise, who hath by my orders frequented their synagogue much of late, and can therefore speak understandingly of the thing. To him have I promised sure advancement8 if he shall please the Council this day."
"Thou art a faithful servant, Caleb, and shall thyself not fail of thy reward," said Annas approvingly. "Now see to it that the Council Chamber9 be prepared with all speed; we must accomplish the thing quickly, lest this favorable opportunity pass by us. Hast thou the man under espionage10, that thou mayest lay hands upon him without delay?"
"He is at this moment engaged in his duties of almoner, my lord, distributing amongst the rabble11 of Jerusalem that which is little better than stolen from the Temple treasury12, in that it is withholden from us unlawfully. Afterward15 he hath the intent to harangue16 the people according to his custom."
"He will find a different audience to-day," interrupted Annas grimly, "and one that cannot be led away by specious17 words. In what synagogue wilt18 thou find him?"
"To-day they purpose to assemble in Solomon's Porch, that they may entrap19 the multitude. The fellow Stephen will interpret the prophets, wickedly alleging20--as do they all--that holy men, such as Moses, Isaiah, and all the prophets, foretold21 as the Messiah the fruit of the accursed tree."
"Little need to suborn witnesses when they openly profane22 the holy places of the earth with such blasphemies23. But go now; keep the fellow under thine own eye till I shall send thee word, then fetch him with all speed, together with the witnesses. Stay a moment--see that there is no tumult24 made when he is arrested."
Caleb smiled as he again bowed himself before his superior. "I have devised a cunning plan wherewith to entrap him without tumult," he replied.
"All is going well," said Annas to himself when he was left alone. "Our patient and apparently25 fruitless toil26 is at last about to be rewarded. Besides Caleb, who shall in no wise lose his reward, we must not forget that we owe much to the discretion27 and zeal28 of Malluch and Zared, who have diligently29 spoken against this man and his words to the people. The sum agreed upon was forty pieces of silver for each of them--a goodly sum for such as they, yet if to-day's descending30 sun finds the man dead I will command that it be made fifty. But here is our Pharisee from Tarsus; I must deal wisely with him. I would that he were a Sadducee, the doctrine31 of the resurrection is a mischievous32 one, and one moreover which these blasphemous33 Nazarenes preach without ceasing. Greetings to thee, my son. This will prove a glorious day with us, if it shall witness a signal victory over unrighteousness."
The newcomer received this friendly greeting with chilling hauteur34. "God knoweth that I long to see the workers of iniquity35 put to confusion," he said, throwing himself into a chair and fixing his stern eyes upon his companion. "But lying and deceit are hateful to my soul. Neither shall anything prosper36 that is accomplished37 thereby38."
The face of Annas hardened. "Thou speakest in riddles39, friend," he said coldly. "Whom dost thou accuse of lying and deceit?"
"It hath come to my ears that certain ones have been hired to speak evil of the man Stephen; that these have stirred up the people against him so that they are ready to lay hands upon him. It is true that the man hath spoken freely and openly in every synagogue, alleging that the carpenter of Galilee was the Christ foretold by the Prophets, and that he hath risen from the dead and is become the first-fruits of them that sleep."
"And hath he convinced the learned Saul of the truth of these things?" said Annas with a sarcastic40 smile. "Nay41, that were a victory indeed."
Saul laughed aloud, a harsh, unmirthful sound. "I am of all men least likely to become a victim of this monstrous42 delusion43. The man should not be suffered to speak further, for he hath the cunning tongue of a great orator44, and convinces the people mightily45. Neither I, nor any who have disputed with him have been able to undo46 the mischief47 that he hath wrought48. But I like not that we suborn liars49 to serve our cause."
"We forbade these men to speak the name of the Nazarene some three years ago, letting them go with but a scourging, according to the counsel of the most sapient50 Gamaliel, whose pupil thou art. But how did they obey the commands of the most holy Council, and how hath the advice of Gamaliel profited our cause? Since that day they have not ceased to bruit51 the hateful name of Jesus of Nazareth about Jerusalem, till the very beggars of our streets pray to him openly. If we have employed discreet52 men to assist us in rooting out this menacing evil, what is it but the part of wisdom? Do not the Nazarenes also feed and clothe the men who are daily spreading this poison to the confusion of Israel? This man Stephen, being a Greek, not only doth not himself observe the law, but he is forever bringing to the mind of the people the words and practices of the Nazarene, who would be well forgotten by this were it not for such pestilent fellows. He diligently reminds the multitude how that the man worked miracles on the Sabbath day, declaring that God would have mercy and not sacrifice, and how he openly prophesied53 the destruction of the Holy Temple. The carpenter from Galilee, he blasphemously54 alleges55, was God made manifest in the flesh; therefore his acts and words are greater than the law of Moses, and rather to be observed than any priestly commands. For such as this fellow there is but one remedy, as it is written also, 'The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.'"
Saul was silent for a moment. Before his mental vision there arose the face of Stephen, as he had seen him many times during the furious controversies56 which had of late taken place in the synagogues, glowing with high courage, hope and confidence, and illumined withal by a mysterious light at which he had more than once inwardly marveled. Then his face hardened. "It is just that this apostate57 be put to death," he said. "This is no time for half-way measures; but let it be done according to the law and without fear of the people."
"Thou hast said!" cried Annas. "This will we do, for the time is ripe. Listen, this very day he shall be brought before the Council; witnesses are at hand that every word may be established according to the law. As it is written, 'in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.'"
"Who are the witnesses?"
"Reputable men--most reputable men. One Esek, a Jew, who dwells near to their synagogue, and----"
"Do these testify freely?--without money, I mean?" again interrupted Saul with an irritable58 gesture.
"It is the custom, my son, to compensate59 witnesses for the loss of time entailed60 upon them in the pursuance of their duty," began Annas smoothly61.
But Saul broke in rudely. "I will have none of it," he cried, springing to his feet and striding stormily up and down the room. "Hired agitators62 amongst the people; hired witnesses against a man who, whatever his accursed beliefs, is at least incapable63 of such meanness."
Annas also arose, and with an air of awful dignity fixed64 his piercing eyes upon the flushed face of the young man. "Thou dost assuredly forget," he said slowly, "the respect due him in whose presence thou art standing7. As the head of the high-priestly family, which for many generations has acceptably served Jehovah in that most holy office, I am not lightly to be accused to my face of that which my soul abhorreth, as also it is written: 'I hate and abhor65 lying, but thy law do I love.' Twice hast thou cast this thing in my teeth, and in so doing thou hast proven thyself unworthy of the high confidence which I have given thee; unworthy of the love which I have freely bestowed66 upon thee; unworthy----"
"Stay, I beseech67 thee!" cried Saul, raising his hand. He had grown deathly pale, and trembled visibly. "It is true, I have forgotten myself. I am well nigh mad because of the failure of all that I had confidently hoped for. Day after day have I gone forth68 to do battle for Israel, and day after day have I been worsted. I am of all men most unworthy, in that I have failed--miserably failed. I will return to Tarsus, and thou shalt see my face no more."
"Nay, my son," said Annas softly, "because thou hast acknowledged thy fault, it is forgiven. And dost think that I have not watched thee in this thy struggle against iniquity; that my heart has not bled for thee? Possess now thy soul in patience, trust in the Lord--and in me--and it shall assuredly come to pass. Thou shalt see the confusion of thine enemies; for the honor of Israel shall this day be vindicated69 right gloriously. As for the thing that thou hast spoken of, it shall be even as thou hast said. There is no lack of them that can witness against this man. Ay! and that will witness right gladly for the glory of Jehovah. Surely there is no need for us to say, 'Who will come up to the help of the Lord?--to the help of the Lord against the mighty70?' Israel shall arise in her might, and shall gird herself against them that would do her violence, that would plague her with idolatrous and blasphemous practices. Too long have we held our peace in the presence of this devouring71 evil; the very stones of the Temple will cry out if we longer submit to them that profane its sanctity."
"As in the case of the Nazarene, it will be possible to do nothing of ourselves," said Saul bitterly. "And the Romans--they care for none of these things."
"Ah--there we have gained a signal victory over our enemies," said Annas triumphantly72. "Herod is with us this time, though not openly. I have taken good care that reports should reach his ear from time to time how that these fellows continually proclaim the return of the crucified one to reign73 over Israel. He loves his paltry74 throne, and actually fears that the thing may come to pass. Not many days since he sent for me. He was lying at full length among his purple cushions.
"'Hast thou heard what these Galileans are saying,' he said, scarcely tarrying for the accustomed greetings.
"'They are saying many things that are unlawful,' I answered him, 'but nothing more dangerous to the peace and prosperity of the nation than that the dead malefactor75--whom they claim is alive--will shortly return to rule over Israel.'
"'Dost thou believe that the man is alive?' he asked, fixing his eyes upon me.
"'If he be not alive,' I said, 'the sedition76 is none the less to be feared, for these fellows are capable of forcing the people to believe what they will. Wilt thou not then take measures against them who alone art in power?'
"'I cannot,' he whined77 fretfully, 'I fear the people--I fear the man--the--the dead man. I am not well. Hast thou not a law which will stop their prating78?'
"'We have a law--yes,' I made him answer; 'but we cannot enforce it, since----'
"'The law--the law,' he interrupted.
"'The law is this--He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The stranger, as well as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord shall be put to death.'
"'Carry out your law upon these men,' he cried, throwing himself back upon the cushions.
"'Not so,' I answered, 'lest we fall upon evil times afterward. We be law-abiding in all points--civil as well as religious--and it is not lawful13 for us to put any man to death.'
"'There shall no harm come to thee,' he cried, 'I swear it. There is now no governor in Jerusalem. I am a Roman. I am the law.'
"'Give me a warrant sealed with thy seal,' I said. And he gave it straightway."
"Hast thou this writing with thee?" said Saul.
Annas drew a parchment from his bosom79 and gave it into the outstretched hand of the young man without a word.
"Inasmuch," he read aloud, "as the peace of Jerusalem and all Jud?a is endangered by malicious80 persons, who proclaim that a crucified malefactor, to wit, one Jesus of Nazareth, is alive, and will shortly overturn the present government that he may himself rule; and as these persons moreover blasphemously affirm that said malefactor is the Jehovah-sent Messiah, I, Herod, do empower the Senate of the people of Israel, called also the Sanhedrim, to deal with such seditious persons according to their judgment81 and after their laws, which do fully14 provide for the scourging, imprisonment82, and putting to death of all persons whether Hebrew or alien, who believe, affirm, and declare mischievous doctrines83 of the like. Signed and sealed, to the glory of Jehovah and the peace of the nation, this fifth day of Nisan, in the Asmonean Palace."
"God hath given them into our hand, my son," said Annas solemnly. "We must deal with them even as Elijah dealt with the prophets of Baal, and 'let not one of them escape.'"
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1
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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2
reviling
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的现在分词 ) | |
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3
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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4
placated
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| v.安抚，抚慰，使平静( placate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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6
scourging
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| 鞭打( scourge的现在分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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7
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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8
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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9
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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10
espionage
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| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
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11
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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12
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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13
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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14
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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15
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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16
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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17
specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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18
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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19
entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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20
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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21
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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23
blasphemies
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| n.对上帝的亵渎，亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 )；侮慢的言词（或行为） | |
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24
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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25
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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26
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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28
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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29
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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30
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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31
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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32
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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33
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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34
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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35
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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36
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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37
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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38
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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39
riddles
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| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
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40
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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41
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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42
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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43
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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44
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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45
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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46
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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47
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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48
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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49
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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50
sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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51
bruit
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| v.散布；n.（听诊时所听到的）杂音；吵闹 | |
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52
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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53
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
blasphemously
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55
alleges
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
controversies
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| 争论 | |
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57
apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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58
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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59
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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60
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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61
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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62
agitators
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| n.（尤指政治变革的）鼓动者( agitator的名词复数 )；煽动者；搅拌器；搅拌机 | |
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63
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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64
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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65
abhor
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| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
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66
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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68
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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69
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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70
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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71
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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72
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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73
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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74
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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75
malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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76
sedition
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| n.煽动叛乱 | |
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77
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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78
prating
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| v.（古时用语）唠叨，啰唆( prate的现在分词 ) | |
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79
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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80
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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81
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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82
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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83
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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