"Suppose that he will not follow me?" said the young man, fixing his black eyes upon the floor with a somewhat sullen4 expression.
Caleb looked at him keenly for a moment before replying. "If thou art zealous5 to secure for thyself the position whereof I have spoken, and the sum of silver which shall also be the reward of thy diligence, thou wilt7 not lack means to bring the man away from the multitude without exciting any tumult8. It is not expedient9 for me to appear in this matter, else would I undertake it. But thou art not the only one, there is Malluch, or----"
"I will fetch him," said Ben Obed looking up hastily; "have I not said that I would do it?"
"The reward is sure," pursued Caleb. "And thou wilt have moreover the approval of thine own conscience in the matter, in that thou art, in serving thine own interests, also serving God--and doubt not that thine obedience10 will be as a sweet savor11 before him."
"What will they do with the--with Stephen?" asked the young man shifting uneasily about in his place. "He is--that is--I think--" and he stopped short, his eyes fixed12 eagerly on the face of his superior.
Caleb straightened himself, and his face hardened. "I have not asked the question of them above me in authority. To receive an order and to obey it without question, comment, or opinion hath ever been my way. It should also be thy way if thou hast a desire to advance thyself in life. As also it is written, 'Seest thou a man diligent13 in his business, he shall stand before kings.' This have I done; not once, but many times," and the speaker drew himself up to his full height, and passed his beard through his hand with the same impressive gesture that he had observed many times--and admired--in the lordly Annas. "Go now, young man," he continued, "and acquit14 thyself well, as becometh the son of a wise and diligent man. So shall thy mother rejoice in the day of thy birth."
"They will imprison15 him," muttered Iddo Ben Obed to himself as he turned away. "He hath assuredly spoken contrary to the law; and why should I not witness to the truth? A man must faithfully perform the duties whereunto he is called without partiality. This Stephen is a Greek--at least by his father--and is it lawful16 to set the son of a malefactor17 in a place of authority? I say not. If he were once out of the way I could win the maid Anat. I know that I could. I can give her a home and abundance of all that she hath need of. I will do this thing. He hath brought it upon himself, for I have thrice warned him to leave Jerusalem. He will not leave, and why?--he thinks forsooth that I am blind."
And having come to the place where the daily distributions were wont18 to be made, he mingled19 with the multitude and waited for the appearance of the seven, as the deacons were now commonly called. They appeared at last, laden20 with the day's alms, and began to make distribution among the waiting poor. Iddo noticed that Stephen's face was very pale, and that blue shadows lay beneath his dark eyes. He smiled evilly. "He is afraid," he sneered21. And being now determined22 upon the course which he meant to follow, he allowed his jealous hatred23 of the man to spring up unchecked, and because hatred is a plant of quick and easy growth, especially when nourished by envy, it came to pass that within the half hour Ben Obed had seen every trace of love, justice and pity in his soul quite destroyed. "I hate him," he whispered to himself, clenching24 his fists. "I care not what they do with him. I hate him."
The distribution took an unusually long time that morning, and Iddo noticed with a scowl25 how that all the poor widows and little children lingered for a word with the youngest of the seven--Stephen, the well-loved of the poor, as he was often called.
"Hypocrite!" said Iddo beneath his breath. As he uttered the word he was startled to feel a light touch on his shoulder; turning quickly, his eye fell upon the messenger appointed by Caleb.
"'Tis the time," said the man with a wink26. "Bring him outside now; I will be at hand should you need help."
Ben Obed nodded. He could not trust himself to speak, the hatred had grown so mighty27 that it struggled to cry out. He approached Stephen cautiously, and laid his hand upon his arm.
"There is one--who is ailing--at my house," he said with difficulty. "Wilt thou come with me?"
Stephen looked up with a smile. "Peace be with thee, Ben Obed, and to all that are within thy house; yes, I will come with thee, but let me first speak with this woman, who hath patiently waited for me since the beginning of the distribution. What is it that thou wouldst ask of me, woman?"
"I have brought hither my babe," answered the woman in a low, anxious voice. "He doth not wake and smile on me as formerly28, but only sleeps. Surely it is not well with him."
"If he sleep he shall do well," said Stephen, unconsciously quoting the words of his Master when told of the sickness of Lazarus. "And if God will that he wake in heaven, then wouldst thou have a child growing to manhood among the angels. Dost thou not covet29 this for thy child?"
"Nay30, for I love him too much to wish him out of my arms," said the mother, dashing the bright drops from her eyes; "and I have not seen heaven."
"My business with thee is urgent," whispered Ben Obed imperatively31. Stephen did not seem to have heard. He laid his hand on the child's head, "Thy will concerning this little one be done, O Father, in the name of Jesus."
"But thou hast not asked for his healing!" cried the mother.
"I have asked for the best that heaven holds for him, or for any one of us," said Stephen gently. "But see, thy child hath awakened," then he turned to Ben Obed. "I will go with thee," he said simply, but there was that in his eyes that caused Iddo to drop his own to the earth.
Once on the street Stephen walked swiftly, so swiftly that Ben Obed had some difficulty in keeping up with him. He exchanged glances with the messenger of Caleb who was following at a discreet32 distance, and the man rapidly overtook them.
"We will go this way," said Ben Obed in a hard voice. But Stephen was silent. Something in his still face angered the young man at his side beyond control. "Why dost thou not speak?" he cried in a choked voice, scarce knowing what he said.
"There are times when silence is more excellent than speech," said Stephen.
Ben Obed cursed the temple under his breath, then he grasped his companion by the arm. "At least I am not a hypocrite," he said violently. "I have been commanded to fetch thee before the Council of the Sanhedrim that thou mayest answer for thy heresies33. And I am going to do my duty. Lay not the consequences of thine own despicable folly34 at my door."
"I had not expected this at thy hands," said Stephen with a look of full understanding. "I had rather that it had been another--but it matters not." There was a slight tremor35 in his voice as he spoke6 the last words.
Ben Obed laughed aloud. "Thou wouldst rather that it were another, for then mightest thou hope to escape; but it is not another, it is I, Ben Obed, and because thou hast cheated me out of the woman I love, I--hate thee."
Stephen was silent. The twain, followed by the ill-omened messenger, presently came to the temple enclosure. Without a word Ben Obed hurried his companion through the crowded courts, neither heeding36 the curious looks with which they were regarded, till at length they stood before the closed door of the great Chamber of Council, called also the "Hall of Squares."
Caleb with a detachment of temple police stood on guard. He was looking anxious and worn, but his eye brightened as it fell upon Stephen. Motioning to the guard to close in around the prisoner, he himself listened at the closed door; presently he laid a cautious hand upon the fastening and with an air of deep solemnity introduced his head into the sacred apartment. Apparently37 receiving some signal from within, he immediately withdrew it. "Pass in," he said briskly, laying a compelling hand upon Stephen's shoulder.
There was an awful stillness in the great room as the two entered, followed by the lesser38 officers, who ranged themselves on either side of the accused man. Then a murmur39 ran about the circle. At the sound Stephen raised his eyes and looked calmly about him. These were the men who had slain40 his Lord; they would also slay41 him--he knew it--and yet the knowledge brought with it only a singular joy. "They hate me, because I am like him," he said within himself, and the glory of that thought became visible upon his face.
Jonathan, the High Priest, was speaking now; with an effort the prisoner compelled himself to listen. "Thou art arraigned42 before this sacred assembly and Senate of Israel on the charge of blasphemously44 speaking against Jehovah; against this most Holy Temple; and against the laws and institutions of Moses and of the Prophets, ordained45 by Jehovah to speak his pleasure to the children of men. We shall hear these charges confirmed by witnesses, according to our laws which thou hast despised, but which thou shalt tread under foot no longer with impunity46. Fetch the first witness.--Dost thou, Ezek, recognize in this man that Stephen who hath blasphemed God, the temple, and the law?"
"I do, most worshipful and High Priest of Jehovah. This is the man."
"Tell us now what thou hast heard him say."
"I have heard him say that the malefactor, Jesus of Nazareth, who of late died the accursed death, after having been duly and righteously convicted of his crimes before this most sacred Council--I have heard him declare, that this man was Jehovah made manifest in the flesh. And that therefore his precepts47 and commands are more binding48 than the precepts of Moses, who was a sinful man like unto ourselves."
"Hast thou heard him say aught concerning the temple?"
"I have heard him say that the Nazarene shall shortly return to destroy this place, so that not one stone shall remain upon another, and that all things which Moses commanded shall be done away. The Gentiles moreover and them that are alien shall see these things and rejoice, for that this Jesus shall hereafter come in the clouds of heaven and gather his elect from the uttermost parts of the earth. The Nazarenes have the intent moreover to possess the earth, and to overthrow49 all powers and governments and all gods that have ever ruled among men, to the end that they may establish the man Jesus upon the throne of power."
"Didst thou hear the man declare these things?"
"I did, most sacred High Priest."
"Enough!--Iddo Ben Obed, thou mayest stand forth50. Dost thou know this man?"
"I do, my lord."
Stephen looked up at the sound of this voice, and a keen spasm51 of pain swept across his face.
"Look at him!" whispered Issachar to his neighbor. "He evidently fears this witness more than the other--though his testimony52 was sufficiently53 damning."
"And what hast thou to say concerning him?" continued the monotonous54 voice of the High Priest.
"He hath spoken blasphemously against Moses and against this holy place, even as hath already been said in your hearing, declaring that God regardeth neither this temple nor the holy city of Jerusalem, inasmuch as the Lord Jesus did in his lifetime pronounce against them anathema55; he also----"
"Hold! How is it that thou dost call the Nazarene Lord? Art thou also one of them?"
The witness turned pale. He cast a murderous look at Stephen. "No," he said fiercely. "I but repeat the word which these men make use of in their blasphemous43 harangues56 to the people; the words slipped from me unawares."
"Proceed."
"He hath declared that neither by laws of man's devising nor by temples of man's building can Jehovah be pleased. That all these things shall be brought to naught57; but that the words of the Nazarene shall remain."
"Enough! There is no need for further testimony. Let the accused stand forth."
Stephen obeyed. And all that sat in the Council, looking steadfastly58 on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
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1
ailing
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| v.生病 | |
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2
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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3
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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5
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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6
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
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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8
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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9
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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10
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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12
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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13
diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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14
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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15
imprison
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| vt.监禁，关押，限制，束缚 | |
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16
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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18
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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19
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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20
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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21
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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23
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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24
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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25
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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26
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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27
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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28
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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29
covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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30
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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31
imperatively
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| adv.命令式地 | |
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32
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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33
heresies
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| n.异端邪说，异教( heresy的名词复数 ) | |
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34
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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35
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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36
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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37
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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38
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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39
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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40
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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41
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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42
arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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43
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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44
blasphemously
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45
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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46
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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47
precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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48
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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49
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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50
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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51
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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52
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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53
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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54
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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55
anathema
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| n.诅咒；被诅咒的人(物)，十分讨厌的人(物) | |
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56
harangues
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| n.高谈阔论的长篇演讲( harangue的名词复数 )v.高谈阔论( harangue的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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58
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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