Fire and Sword Page 3

  “Er…speaking of promises made,” began Pellecus.

  “Yes, Pellecus, what is it?” asked Lucifer.

  Kara was amused at Pellecus’ discomfort.

  “Don’t you recall Jesus’ promise?” asked Pellecus scornfully. He directed his question at Kara. “One would come after Him: the Holy Spirit of the Most High!”

  “Of course,” countered Kara, looking at the others. “But I thought that was simply kind words to buttress them against His impending departure. I saw no reason to take Him literally. We cannot presume that the Spirit of God will interfere in this cause now that Jesus is gone!”

  Lucifer suddenly looked up. A look of concern came over his face, and he motioned for the others to listen carefully to what he was hearing. A noise was heard throughout the room, almost imperceptible at first, but then growing to a deafening, clamorous roar. It was the sound of a mighty wind. Yet nothing in the room moved—not even the papers stacked on a nearby desk. The council began shrieking and scattering in fear.

  Lucifer attempted to maintain order, but to no avail. His council scurried and emptied the room. Lucifer, enraged, looked outside, barely able to withstand the energy of the noise that drove through him like lightning through a cloud.

  Pellecus was knocked to the side violently. Even Rugio was thrown off balance by the wind which affected nothing except for the angels. The room itself remained at peace. Everyone vacated the room except for Kara, Pellecus, and Rugio. They moved nearer to Lucifer.

  Above the building where the men and women prayed, the holy angels rejoiced as a great hand appeared in the form of a fist and opened up, releasing hundreds of small, fiery dots of light that descended upon the house like snowflakes. They pulsed and praised the Most High in many languages and disappeared through the roof and sides of the house. Pellecus shuddered in astonishment. Kara merely was wide-eyed at it all.

  Lucifer turned to Kara. “You may now presume that the Spirit of God has interfered,” he snapped.

  Peter and the others looked in wonder as the sound of a great wind filled the room in which they prayed. Andrew looked at Peter, but Peter could only indicate that they should wait and see whether this was something from the Lord.

  Peter ordered that the group should remain in prayer, but many had stopped to observe the strange phenomena.

  “Peter, what is it?” Andrew asked.

  “Look!” said Peter, pointing to the center of the room.

  A gasp from some of the people sounded as a large, fiery image appeared in the room near the center. It was pulsing, and the strange sound of what seemed like hundreds of voices—all in different languages—was plainly heard. As the disciples looked about in amazement, the image began breaking up, and the individual parts began settling upon people as they prayed and watched.

  Peter started to tell Andrew something, but when he spoke, a strange sound came from his mouth. He spoke in a language that he had never before studied—much less heard! Andrew started to say something in reaction, but the same happened to him. Before long everyone in the room was speaking in strange languages of which they had no knowledge—yet they all understood, men and women alike, that they were speaking praises to the Most High God!

  The angels rejoiced in a great shout to the Lord as the Holy Spirit fell upon the people and filled them with His presence. Crispin and Michael watched the other angels singing praises to the Most High as they recognized a great prophecy of the prophet Joel being fulfilled.

  “This is what Joel spoke of,” said Crispin, as always in a teaching mode. “This is the great outpouring of God upon flesh!”

  “So the humans are not only led by the Spirit of God but filled with His presence?” said Michael. “What does it mean?”

  Crispin watched as the people, filled with the Spirit of God, poured out of the building and continued speaking in whatever language the Lord had given them. A great crowd started to gather as pilgrims to Jerusalem from far-flung regions of the empire heard glory being given to God in their native languages. The crowd was growing, to the obvious discomfort of the Roman soldiers charged with keeping the peace during the feast.

  “This is the beginning of a new age,” said Crispin.

  He looked at the retreating devils and wicked angels who had moved in to keep watch on the fledgling Church. Now, in the face of this holy outpouring, they dissipated like a weak mist, shrieking and cursing as they left. Crispin pointed to the retreating spirits.

  “And it looks like the beginning of a new war,” he said, soberly.

  The crowds on the streets in front of the house had come to a standstill as thousands of men and women heard the faint but distinct sounds of familiar language being lifted up. Jews from as far away as Rome, Parthia, Libya, and all provinces between were represented as they stopped to hear their native languages pouring forth from these very unlikely people.

  Some of the pilgrims searched among the noisy throng for the speaker, hoping to discover who this prophet of their land might be. Others were bewildered by the raucous atmosphere and put it down to the religious mystique which Jerusalem held. Still others, not so reverent, mocked the situation and pointed to those who were speaking praises to God, accusing them of being drunk.

  Above them all, the holy angels pressed around—curious as to what the Lord was performing among the humans. The men were praising God to be sure, but it was praise unlike any they had ever heard, evoking power and authority. They knew that the prophets had spoken of such an event many years earlier, but they never imagined what it might actually look like. They were astonished that such an honor might be given among men.

  “Look at them, Crispin,” said Serus, who had joined the group of angels enjoying the spectacle. “They speak with such boldness and clarity.”

  Serus had risen among the ranks of the Host following his departure from Lucifer’s influence before the Great Rebellion. He had been apprenticed to Michael early on, and now had been given the honor of an assignment to one of the leaders of this fledgling move of the Holy Spirit—the man known as Paul.

  “That’s because the Holy Spirit of the Most High has fallen on them,” said Crispin. “They are filled with His boldness and clarity. There will be no stopping them as long as they maintain this wonderful relationship with the Lord.”

  “No stopping them?” said a sneering voice.

  It was Kara. “That’s a bit premature, wouldn’t you say?” he continued. “After all, these are the same humans who only weeks ago saw the man Jesus killed. And that man—” he pointed to Peter. “He styles himself a leader of this rabble? He denied the very man whom he now would worship? I think this war has quite a ways to go.”

  Berenius, who always seemed to accompany Kara, laughed in agreement.

  “You’ll see that man in a new light, Kara,” said Serus, who took his charge of Peter and his duty to keep him safe quite seriously. “He is a new man since the Lord’s glorious resurrection.”

  “There are no new men,” scoffed Kara. “Just the same old humans with the same flaws. They’ll succumb to their terminal failure as always.”

  Laughter erupted from the growing group of devils.

  “Just as you and your ilk do?” asked Crispin.

  Kara cursed the angel, as did those unholy spirits with him.

  As they spoke, angels from both camps began gathering around them. The unholy spirits had recovered from the initial fear that had sent them scurrying, and were beginning to reappear with boldness. Some of the holy angels saw the buildup of their enemy and began gathering around Crispin and Serus in support. Upon Michael’s arrival, a distinct look of fear came over Kara’s troop.

  “We’ll not fight you here,” said Kara, looking at the gathering Host and Michael in particular. “You needn’t fear us … yet.”

  “We’ll never fear you,” said Michael, glaring at the defiant, yet obviously fearful angels with Kara. “Or your master’s plan.” He indicated the scene being played out below them on the streets. �
�Nor will they.”

  Kara laughed.

  “We’ll see, Archangel,” he said. “These humans are weak and led by the weakest of all. Peter will fail as always. His actions will eventually betray him. And when he speaks, his words will fail him. It is his way.”

  “Then let us watch how he acts and speaks,” said Crispin, pointing to Peter, who was climbing on a pedestal to speak. “For he is about to do both!”

  Peter stood and raised his hands to speak, with the eleven other disciples standing with him. They looked at the crowd who had broken out in a mixture of harassing jibes and perplexing questions. Andrew watched his brother trying to get the people quiet. He could not help but recall how, only weeks before, this same man had cowered in the face of questioning by a young girl the night of Jesus’ betrayal. Now he stood before thousands to bear witness of the risen Christ he had denied.

  Peter, sensing an opening, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:

  “Fellow Jews from various parts of the world and all of you who live in Jerusalem, I want to tell you what it is you are seeing!”

  He looked at a group of men who had been heckling from the side and smiled.

  “And no, these men are not drunk! Why it’s only nine in the morning! Much too early for drink!”

  The men laughed at Peter and waved him off. One man, a notable drunkard named Samuel, held up a small wine flask as if to drink it in Peter’s honor. Peter waved back in good humor.

  “Now listen carefully to what I say. It is not drink that is the cause of this great occasion. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel!”

  “He is quoting Joel? Interesting.”

  As Peter spoke, a group of Pharisees, led by Zichri, one of Jesus’ harshest critics, moved in to listen. He was accompanied by Shallah, his aide, and several other priests of the Pharisees.

  “An unlearned man like that teaching from Joel,” said Shallah. “Absurd.”

  “Common fisherman,” chimed in another.

  Zichri looked around at the gathering crowd. The people were actually listening to this man—just as they had when Jesus spoke. He didn’t like this. “Stupid, unwashed people! Why are they so easily captivated?” he cursed.

  “His master once called us a brood of vipers,” Zichri continued, looking at Peter. “But it was He who was the snake, poisoning the people with His teaching. I never intended Him harm. What we did to Jesus was for the good of the nation. And now His followers continue spewing the same venom.”

  “It seems, lord, that cutting the head off the snake failed to kill it,” said Shallah. The others nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, it appears that this viper has more than one head. At least for now.” Zichri turned to Shallah. “Alert the Temple guard that we may have some trouble. And make sure the Sanhedrin hear of this as well. A brood of vipers is best killed when it is still in the nest.”

  Shallah nodded and disappeared into the crowd.

  “And now let us see if the disciple of the blasphemer is himself guilty of blasphemy.” Zichri smiled at the others. “Viper begets viper.”

  “Listen to what Joel the prophet had to say: ‘In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy! You, young men—you will see visions; and old men, you will dream great dreams.’ And the Lord has not forgotten the women either—the Lord will pour His Spirit on both men and women!”

  “On the women?” cried a voice. “My woman prophesies enough!”

  Some laughed at the interruption, but most hushed the man.

  “Let him speak!”

  “I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,” Peter continued. “With blood and fire and billows of smoke. Even the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord—the day of the Lord as foretold by so many of our prophets! And hear me now—everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

  “Saved?” said one.

  “Saved from what?” asked another.

  “Perhaps the Romans?” offered another.

  “Men of Israel, listen to me! Jesus of Nazareth …”

  Upon the words Jesus of Nazareth, a low groan went up among the crowd. People suddenly began realizing who this was—the fisherman. These are the men who followed Jesus! The crowd began murmuring as a wave of recognition overcame many of them for the first time. It is Peter! Didn’t he deny Jesus? What is he doing here?

  Peter ignored the effect of his words and continued, “Jesus was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. Many of you saw these miracles. Some of you were healed by Jesus. Or fed by Him …”

  The people grew quiet as they contemplated the truth of these words. Many in attendance had been touched by Jesus in some incredible way—or had witnessed some miracle or other. Certainly Jesus was a man of God.

  “Jesus was handed over to you,” Peter continued, “not by His enemies—but through the Father’s plan. With the help of His enemies—men who are wicked and filled with hate—He was put to death on a cross!”

  Peter pointed toward Calvary as he spoke. Many of the disciples looked in the direction of the bloody hill where Jesus had been executed as a criminal a few weeks before. They turned back to Peter.

  “But God raised Him from the dead!”

  Upon those words, Zichri was enraged. He began compelling Jews in the audience to shout Peter down.

  “Jesus was a criminal!”

  “His body was stolen!”

  But the people seemed to be with Peter and turned upon the shouters, threatening them if they didn’t stop harassing Peter. Zichri was completely incredulous and turned away, muttering under his breath how foolish Israel was as he pushed his way out of the crowd. His priests followed.

  “Yes, I say—He was raised from the dead because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Your priests do not understand this!”

  He pointed to Zichri, who had turned to look at Peter upon that charge.

  “Even David said about Jesus: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let your Holy One see decay!’”

  Zichri started to rebut the point but thought better of it as he scanned the faces looking at him. He would hold his tongue—at least for now.

  “Brothers,” Peter continued, “I can tell you that King David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Jesus is this descendant of David!”

  Many of the crowd turned to Zichri to see what he might answer, but to their surprise, he made no sound. He simply stared coldly at Peter. They turned away from him as Peter continued speaking. A few laughed under their breath. Peter began walking about now, turning so that the many people could see him as he concluded.

  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. He is Messiah!”

  As Peter spoke, he and his brother could hear the anguished cries of people who were pushing in and asking, “If Jesus was the Messiah and we killed Him, what can we do now?”

  The disciples marveled at the power of the truth to convince men’s hearts. Peter tearfully and with great joy shouted:

  “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children…”

  He indicated Zichri once more, who was still staring at him with cold eyes.

  “And even for all those who are far off!”

  The laughter among the crowd enraged Zichri. He had heard all he needed to hear. Satisfied that the evidence for seditious teachin
g was apparent, he turned from Peter and disappeared into the throng of people. He would have it out with Peter at a more opportune time. The priests followed him.

  “Baptize us!” someone shouted.

  Then another.

  And another.

  Peter looked up toward Heaven and blessed the greatness of the Lord. The faces of the people who wanted their lives to be transformed by the risen Christ reminded him of the days when Jesus Himself ministered. Then he recalled what Jesus had said: that they would themselves do even greater things in the name of the Lord when Jesus had left them. What a wonderful time to be alive!

  Peter looked to Andrew and the others to organize the people who responded to Peter’s message. As the brothers watched the men heading to the various pools in various parts of the city to be baptized by the disciples, Andrew put his arm around his brother’s shoulder. He stood there for a moment, drinking in the scene. Peter felt a tug on his cloak and looked to his side. A man stood there, bowing and thanking Peter in great tears for his message. It was the drunkard Samuel! Peter hugged the man and, after praying for him, watched him get in the line to be baptized.

  “Something marvelous was birthed today,” Andrew said. “Here in Jerusalem, on this Pentecost, the Lord’s work began anew!”

  “Yes,” said Peter, smiling at Andrew, “the Lord’s work has begun anew.”

  Just then the crowd fell silent at the blast of a ram’s horn that could be heard from the Temple in the distance. Peter turned his head in the direction of the sound.

  “And the enemy’s work has begun anew as well.”

  Chapter Four

  “RISE UP AND WALK”

  Paul’s Cell, Rome, A.D. 67

  “It was glorious,” Luke said.

  Paul beamed in response, his weak eyes lighting up in the dark cell.

  “Well?” Paul pleaded. “What else did you learn about that great day?”

  “I have it all here,” Luke said, pointing to his head. “As well as here.” Luke pulled several large sheets of parchment from his bag. They were rolled in several small scrolls wrapped with a soft leather string. “These are my notes for the second account.”