Envy - The Seculary of a Wandering Jew (Book 1) Page 4

  Year 37

  The Sanhedrin, still not totally recovered from the dismissal of Caiaphas, and also in unfamiliar ground with the new Prefect, decided to call a meeting to which I was also summoned. It would be my first time before the Council, and I to admit that I was nervous, more so as the summons did not explicitly state the reason for my presence.

  In that afternoon, as I arrived at the large meeting chamber, I found some colleagues and even some of my competitors, as well as the usual number of priests, scribes and a profusion of functionaries. The hall was filled with the richest and the more illustrious of the city.

  As there was not enough space for all to be seated, we gathered in small groups awaiting for the arrival of the main councilors, the Nasi Gamaliel and the High Priest Jonathan.

  “Gentlemen,” called out Jonathan who had suddenly arrived amidst a host of functionaries, and not even sitting down, continued, “we thank you all for your presence here today,” and turning to Gamaliel, he ceded the word and discreetly exited the room without further ado.

  I had seen Gamaliel on several occasions at Joseph’s house, the respected head of a much prestigious family of sages and interpreters of the laws. His family had occupied the presidency of the Council for many years, and despite his fame and rank, I had always admired his restrained, agreeable nature and courtesy to all. A laudable and rare quality in the mighty and powerful.

  “We have asked for your presence here to announce the imminent visit of the illustrious Governor of Syria. It will take place during the next harvest festival. It is the wish and the will of this Council, and also of our most noble Tetrarch Antipas, to hold a magnificent reception for this most exalted personage, as a token of our gratitude for his recent intervention against the heretics and rebels in Samaria and Galilee.”

  And looking over the assembly, he carried on.

  “To guarantee a most dignified event, we would like to count on your full support, and a small pecuniary contribution. A committee has been formed to define the necessary values and once again I endear you to cooperate fully with us on this important matter.”

  If, on the one hand, I felt flattered for being included in such a distinct group, on the other hand, I could foresee the cost of such a privilege. In truth, life has amply shown me that the more we have, the less we like to give away.

  Gamaliel did not add much to this initial speech, and soon afterwards he also left the chamber followed by his acolytes, other judges and councilors, leaving the committee to do its work. There had been no time and space for any counter arguments or discussions. They had decided to hold the feast, and someone would now have to pay for it.

  There are those who claim that Judaeans talk too much. It is not true, we just discuss a lot. Especially when the subject is about voluntary contributions. The committee only had a list of names and the total amount that was deemed necessary to hold the reception. So I was not at all surprised when at the end, long after the beginning, we all left dissatisfied with the final outcome of the proceedings.

  As I was on my way out, one functionary of the council came to me and asked me to follow him. One of the councilors wanted to have a word with me. He did not add further details.

  I was taken to a side room, not a very large chamber, but richly decorated, where an old man was waiting seated on a large chair. It was Gamaliel. As he saw me approaching, he stood up and embraced me warmly as friends do who had not seen one another for a while. I reciprocated awkwardly but respectfully too, and he asked me to take a seat.

  “Master Ahasver, I asked for you here to let you know that I am working in freeing our good friend Joseph. It has been some years since he was locked in that fortress, and I believe that I can now get the support of our High Priest and of some other influential friends to get him back.”

  “Rabban that would be truly wonderful!” I said.

  “Really? Even if that means that you will lose some of your current prestige?”

  “I am afraid that you exaggerate, Rabban. Far from illustrious or rich, as some claim, the truth is that I am an employee, receiving a salary just like so many of Joseph’s other functionaries. And, the truth be said, I have not aspired to more” and I was being really truthful and with no ambiguity whatsoever.

  “I believe you, Master Ahasver. Your behavior has been exemplary and discreet. Very discreet, I must admit. Others in your place would not have been so. But Joseph always had a gift for surrounding himself with righteous and honest people.”

  “But is it truly imminent, his release?”

  “I do believe so. Maybe a matter of weeks at most. The arrival of the Governor will also help our cause. There will be some in his entourage who know Gamaliel because of his businesses in Syria, and they will exert some influence with the Governor. Anyway, I wanted you to be the first to know, as I expect there will be matters to attend to in this regard. But do not say or do anything until I tell you more.”

  “Of course, Rabban, and I do thank you for trusting me, and please do let me know if there is anything I can do. Anything, and obviously, money is not an issue.”

  A few days before the arrival of the Governor Lucius Vitelius to the city, Joseph of Arimathea was released from captivity, as Gamaliel and his supporters got the Council to approve his liberation. This was also made possible through the intercession of a Greek, by the name of Erasto, who was at the time one of the governor’s secretaries.

  This Erasto was a relative of Joseph’s agent in Antioch, and he interceded with the Governor for Joseph’s freedom. The Governor, known for his just disposition and integrity, ordered Erasto to write to the Sanhedrin regarding Joseph’s situation, presenting the argument that the prisoner was being held, not because of any criminal activity, but due to religious divergences, and such matters were not agreeable to Roman policy. He also added the argument that Joseph was an important member of the business community in the regions under his control, and ended his message by informing the Council that the Prefect, Marcellus, would not continue to hold such prisoners, as Pilate had done before.

  It was a joyous and emotional day when we went to collect Joseph from the fortress. I gathered some of his closer friends and also a small escort to accompany us. I feared that his release could provoke some hostility or commotion from the more radical Judaean and Nazarene elements.

  The city was pristine, as I had not seen it for a long time. Almost shiny, clean and filled with banners and ornaments of flowery and geometric patterns, and hanging in many of the windows, tapestries and colorful cloths made a strong contrast against the sandy and brownish hues of the edifices. All was being prepared to receive the Governor, but for us, it was also the visible celebration of Joseph’s freedom.

  It had been some months since we had last seen each other, as visitation had always been problematic. As we finally met, we embraced very emotionally under the careful gaze of some of the legionnaires, and of the many passers-by. To my surprise, Joseph was in good shape physically, and the years spent in that jail did not seem to affect his disposition nor his spirits. The same bright and intelligent gaze, the same courteous mannerisms, all reflected his joy with his new found freedom. There was a lot of talking to do and of decisions to take, but all that could wait.

  I managed to get him into the litter, emphatically denying him his wish to go afoot, and before we headed home, he asked to be taken to the Temple to give thanks to the Lord for his release. Despite my attempts to dissuade him due to security concerns, he was not moved, and with a twinkle in his eyes he told me that his going to the Temple would be favorably looked at from all those who were watching him now.

  The rest of the day was spent in the company of his many friends, who called on him and offered words of comfort and joy for his release. Colleagues, employees, customers, scribes, judges and priests, all wanted to see him and all he warmly received. It was only after dusk that we managed to get some peace.

  “Ahasver,” he said in a voice of happy fatigue, “what
a wonderful day ! A day I had never expected to have again.”

  “Many good days are yet to come, Joseph.”

  “I do hope so, but I had many moments of doubt and uncertainty in that jail. Only my faith kept me going, and every day I thanked the Messiah for His words of comfort and relief.”

  The sudden look I cast him, made him smile.

  “No, Ahasver, I did not see the Messiah. Nor am I senile yet. Nor was I fortunate enough to have an apparition.”

  “So? " I chuckled with a thin smile.

  “I received a few letters from the brothers during this time, with words of consolation, and many of these were quotes of the wordings and teachings of Yeshua when he was among us.”

  “They were able to pass these letters to you in prison? I am surprised.”

  “Yes. We do have some brothers among the servants and other officers in that fortress. The humbler ones, I would say. It was through them that I received these messages.”

  “I did not know of this. No one has ever mentioned to me.”

  “One has to be discreet in these things. Besides, they were always a bit wary of you.”

  “Of me? But why? I did all that we agreed on. I have not even spoken of them to anyone, not even to Isaac.”

  “But you did not convert to the faith.”

  “Joseph, you know how I feel about their messiah.”

  “Mine too.”

  "What?”

  “My Messiah too, Ahasver.”

  “Joseph, I have the highest regard and gratitude for you, but don’t expect me to give up my faith in the Lord, and believe in the divinity of Yeshua or his resurrection.”

  “You saw the empty sepulcher.”

  “Yes I did, just as you did. But since when is that proof of anything?”

  “Faith is not built on proof. He did appear later to some of his followers.”

  “I did not see that, nor you, as far as I know.”

  “No, I was not worthy, but I do believe it to be the truth. Ahasver, you must really hear and understand His teachings, the purity of His morals and the humility in all that He did. The cures, the sermons, the miracles, and then you would understand.”

  “Joseph, I do hope you are not criticizing me for my weak capabilities as a thinker,” I said smiling and trying to bring that talk to an end, “that all that is beyond my intellectual understanding.”

  “Not at all, that is nonsense, Ahasver. See here, our most devoted followers are the less educated, the simpler folk. Yeshua always said that His message was not for the mighty and the powerful, but for the meek, the humble and the purest of heart among us.”

  “If there is one thing that I know, Joseph, is that the less educated and humbler are also the more gullible and naive. You are well aware of the many prophets and messiahs who have claimed divine inspiration throughout our history. And you also know who are the usual followers and the inevitable victims of these charlatans. It’s the people, the common people, who first rise enthusiastically behind these movements and are then devoured by the violence provoked by these phony sages.”

  “This is different. Such movements had nothing in common with us. Those others always chose the path of violence, to topple the established order and any who opposed their ideas. Yeshua never defended such a course. He never advocated violence. Do tell me, in all this time have you ever heard of the brotherhood being involved with any violent deeds?”

  “No, I admit to that. But Yeshua himself provoked a riot in the Temple. Let us not forget that. Isaac certainly has not forgotten.”

  “That event in the Temple was premeditated. Yeshua knew he would be accused and condemned because of it.”

  “Are you saying that he provoked that incident with the purpose of being punished?”

  “We now believe so. He is part of the Lord, so the future or the past holds no mysteries to Him.”

  “But what kind of man would do that?”

  “Someone with no reason to fear, and who knows beyond any doubt that death is but a stepping stone to an eternal life.”

  “A fanatic, I would say.”

  “No, Ahasver.”

  “Yes, Joseph. I see you all too concerned with life after death. So what is our purpose in this world? To grow old waiting for the inevitable?”

  “It is not a question of waiting for death, but rather of preparing ourselves for that day, and those who do not follow the right faith in this world are condemned to suffer in the next.”

  “So you convert these people by fear. Fear of what is to come if they don’t follow you now.”

  “Ahasver, only those who do not have a clear conscience for their actions and beliefs in this world, may fear the afterlife.”

  “The ones that do not sin, you mean, for let us be frank, Joseph, we all sin.”

  This dialogue still went on for some time, but it was more than evident that Joseph’s faith in the Nazarene sect was now rock solid, and nothing would move or change his ideas. In all my previous meetings with the Nazarenes I had never had a discussion about their beliefs and not one of them had approached me in order to convert me to their faith. I expected the same from Joseph, and I told him so.

  “In a way, Ahasver, that only enforces my trust in you. We have always being open and true with each other. Someone else might even try to ingratiate himself with me by pretending to accept my faith, and not because he really believed in the Messiah. But not you.”

  These were kind words that somehow appeased my fears with his return.

  Obviously I questioned myself about my future, now that Joseph was back. I took some comfort in knowing that I had now quite a bit of money put away, but I did not look forward to going back to business on my own. At the very least, I hoped to remain under his employment.

  The following days, more tranquil and with fewer visitors in the house, we finally had the time to inform Joseph about all that had happened with the businesses during his time in captivity. Joseph heard us and did not comment much. Isaac showed his numbers and reports, and in the end gave him a written summary of the balance and of the cash situation, what was in the safe downstairs and what was deposited in the Temple. I knew there would be discrepancies between his numbers and the actual values that were held, as Isaac had never been aware of the values that I had passed to the Nazarenes.

  In the end, Joseph announced to us that he was fully satisfied, and that nothing would change with his return. I would still be in charge of the business, and Isaac could also stay on, if he wanted to. Joseph wanted to remain free from the daily chores of the emporium.

  “Basically I can tell you that I will be traveling,” he said, “I want to go to Caesarea, Damascus and also spend some time in Antioch. I am also very pleased with you two. I could not have found better and more trustworthy partners.”

  Unnecessary to say how relieved I was with this praise and his decision.

  Getting him away from the city, from the influence of the Nazarenes and the vigilance of the Sanhedrin, was the surest way to keep him free. Since his convictions had not changed at all, I was positive that if he stayed in Jerusalem he would again get embroiled with the Nazarenes, and the Sanhedrin would surely react to that. The sad and tragic destiny of Stephen was still too fresh in my memory.

  But I was not aware at that point, that his travel plans had everything to do with the Nazarenes.

  Finally the long awaited Governor Vitelius arrived in the city. His entrance was triumphant, and the whole town went out into the streets to welcome him. Jonathan, still feeling insecure in his position as High Priest, went to extremes to appease, please and make this illustrious guest feel welcomed by all.

  Vitelius entered the city with a small retinue of his officers, and his two legions set up camp outside the walls. Marcellus, the Prefect, received him in the Pretorium, and later in the same day, also in the company of Antipas, they proceeded to the Temple to pay the usual homage to the Lord.

  The city was brimming with people, recently arrived fo
r the harvest festival, also know as the feast of the Tabernacles, and Vitelius used the occasion to announce some reductions in taxes and duties, which made him even more popular. A large reception and a feast at the Herodian palace was also programmed for that evening, but the news of the sudden death of the Emperor Tiberius interrupted the festivities, and Vitelius hurriedly left to join his troops and make them swear the usual vows of allegiance to the new Emperor, Gaius Caligula.

  Before departing from the region, Vitelius once again returned to the city and replaced the High Priest Jonathan with his brother Theophilus. Later on, Joseph told me that this was requested by Jonathan himself, naming his own brother as his successor.

  Meanwhile, Joseph kept himself busy preparing for his own departure. He claimed that he was now fully recovered from his prison ordeal, physically fit and eager to start on his journey. He had already dispatched much correspondence to his contacts in the cities that he would be visiting, and all was now ready.

  “Did you know, Ahasver, that Damascus was the city of Abraham before he came to Judaea?”

  I did not know or remember. Certainly it was written somewhere in the scriptures.

  Joseph was an ardent admirer of Antioch. Its temples, the luxuriant fields of the city surrounded by high hills and distant mountains with their summits covered in perpetual snow, all laid out in a fertile valley with a river crossing it in half. A city of pagans with good taste, as he described it.

  “Yes, Antioch is a magnificent city, one of the largest in the empire.”

  “Are there many Judaeans in the city?”

  “Oh yes, but many more Gentiles, especially Greeks, and we do have some brothers there already. Allegedly it was founded by the great Alexander, just like Alexandria itself, but there are those who doubt this,” and with sparkling eyes he went on. “it will be very good to revisit some places and see some old friends again. Ahasver, that is truly the best thing one can do in these travels.”

  “I’ve never been outside of Judaea, only to Caesarea a few times on business.”

  “Well, I recommend that you do some traveling when possible. Get to know this world. Enlarge your knowledge and open your horizons.”

  “Maybe some day.”

  “I’m sure. You are the kind who is curious enough to enjoy exploring new places.”

  “Are you meeting with the Messianics there?” I asked.

  “Yes, I’m taking with me some correspondence from the brothers here in Jerusalem. Also, some notes with sayings of our Messiah. Ahasver, there is a great thirst in that city for the right kind of messages, and many want to know more of our lord Yeshua.”

  “Do you really think they will believe it? The resurrection and all, I mean.”

  “Always the skeptic, Ahasver. Fortunately there are many who believe in it, and even more who will come to believe it in the future, for His word will spread to all nations…”

  “I’ve heard that expression…”

  “You see ? The word is spreading, have no doubt! Some even believe that soon we will have some Gentile brothers too. Those who erroneously believe in pagan gods and the cults of Rome and Greece.”

  “You mean people who are unfamiliar with the scriptures ? Who do not keep the law and the holy commandments? I don’t understand…”

  “Yeshua commanded his followers to spread His word to everyone, all nations and tribes, and not only to the Judaeans. I believe that will happen. Ahasver, the Messiah was not just a Judaean, He is for all men and for all peoples. That is the nature of his message. He was condemned for the sins of all mankind.”

  “You are saying that anyone, man or women, can adhere to the cult?”

  “I believe so, and so do many others of our brothers.”

  “Joseph, all this traveling you are now planning is in the service of the Messianics ?”

  “Also,” he smiled, “but not only for our faith, I need to do it for my own sake too.”

  From this conversation, I could gather that the cult now had the will and the means to spread to other lands, not only by encroaching on the believers of the true faith, but also accept converts who did not know or follow our scriptures and our rituals.

  Soon came the day of Joseph’s departure and together with the servants, the carriages and all the luggage, I followed him to the Sheep’s Gate to say our farewells amidst promises of maintaining regular contact through the post and by mutual acquaintances. It would be a long and risky journey. They would be joining a large caravan, but in those days, danger lurked in those long and winding routes. I was feeling very negative that day, filled with dark premonitions.

  His departure brought on an emptier house, the repeated routines of daily chores, less visitors and a longing for our afternoon talks, even those of the more impious kind.

  Year 38

  “Master Ahasver, there is a man at the gate that claims to have a message for you.”

  “Well, ask him to give it to you.”

  “He wants to deliver it to you in person. He would not give it to me. I asked him…”

  “Very well, tell him to wait in the courtyard. I’ll be down soon, but be vigilant, Ioanis. We never know…”

  Many knew that this house was also a place of work, with money and other valuables stored in it. And it was true. Joseph had built a solid and hidden safe that few were aware of. But it was always wiser to be careful than sorry.

  The stranger who called on me was a robust man, tall in stature, wearing a tunic of faded color under a dusty grey cloak. Penetrating dark eyes under exaggerated eyebrows, a prominent chin and thin chapped lips completed this austere character.

  “Master Ahasver, my name is Saul of Tarsus, and I bring you a message from brother Joseph.”

  I should have guessed, another Nazarene. That sort of attire was almost an uniform with them. But the important thing was to receive news from Joseph.

  “I welcome you then,” and I asked him to come into the atrium, where we sat in the couches that were laying close to the pond.

  “Brother Joseph is now in Damascus, from where I arrived yesterday, he is well and in vigorous health, I am pleased to say. By the grace of our Lord, his journey was peaceful and uneventful.

  “I am pleased to hear that. I’ll be sure to let everyone know of such good tidings.”

  Without further ado, he handed me a roll of parchment, written in Joseph’s calligraphy.

  “He asked that you read it presently before I leave, and to wait for your answer. But if it is inconvenient, I can return tomorrow or at a more suitable date.”

  “No, please. I can read it now.”

  Joseph’s letter was not long, and in it he informed of his trip from Caesarea to Damascus, where he arrived well and with no mishaps. He was staying at the house of an old friend from Jerusalem, and would stay there awaiting for Saul’s return, and then both would go on to Antioch, following his original plan. He mentioned the success the Nazarenes were having with new converts, numbering over 30 in that city alone. He asked me to write back to him, and ended the letter requesting that I give Saul a half-talent of gold now and another half on his return to Damascus.

  I was not surprised with this request, since I had long known that Joseph was financing the activities of the Nazarenes, but the amount now requested was exorbitant, and I almost told so to the messenger. But then again it was not my money and Joseph could dispose of it as he best saw fit.

  “Saul, you are aware of Joseph’s wish as by this letter?”

  “Yes, brother Joseph confided in me its contents.”

  “A request from Joseph is an order in this house, but I have to warn you of the dangers of carrying this much coin around.”

  “I am well aware of that. I can tell you that one half-talent is to give to our congregation here in the city and the rest I will take back to Damascus with me.”

  “Joseph must really trust you.”

  “Brother Joseph knows me well. He knows of my dedication and of my integrity.”

&
nbsp; “I can hear from your accent, that you are not from Jerusalem.”

  “No, I was born in Tarsus, but I received my instruction in this city. My parents were Pharisees, friends of a friend of Joseph, Rabban Gamaliel, who was also my teacher for some time. I studied the scriptures in his school.”

  “Are you now living in Damascus ?”

  “Antioch is my home.”

  Given the time and the rules of courtesy, I invited him to share a meal with us, but he declined the invitation.

  “I am sorry that you have other commitments for the day. In any case, I must ask you to return tomorrow to get the money. I do not have such large amounts here at the house” I lied.

  “I am at your disposal, of course, and tomorrow I will bring some of my brothers with me. It will be safer.”

  Late in the evening I took 30 minas from the safe, the amount equivalent to the half-talent that Joseph has requested. How life had changed, I thought, while I wrapped the coins in an old cloth bag. Thirty minas to hand over to heretics.

  In the next morning, Saul and two of his Nazarene brothers returned to the house.

  For civility sake I asked them to take some refreshments, and we all sat once again in the atrium. I asked one of the servants for the drinks, and while we waited, I was surprised with the following statement.

  “Master Ahasver, are you aware that in our community it is known that our Messiah spoke with you when He was on the way to his martyrdom? Can you tell us how it was? We would very much like to set down the details.”

  “Yes, Master Ahasver, please do tell us" asked one of the other Nazarenes by the name of Joseph.

  “You mean you want to write it down?" I asked, “I can’t allow that, for everyone’s sake, especially Joseph and our business here. It cannot be made public our involvement with you or our support. It would be very bad for business and besides, as you well know I do not subscribe to your beliefs.”

  “Master Ahasver,” replied Saul, “naturally we will respect your wishes. Our brotherhood has almost completed a short book on the works and the teachings of the Messiah. Everyone who witnessed his deeds have voluntarily given testimonials of his stay among us.”

  “Everyone who accepts and sympathizes with your faith” I corrected him.

  “Yes, all who were touched by His divine grace and have converted to our faith.”

  “I have to insist that is not my case.”

  “But one day soon the Spirit will awake within you and you will come to accept our Lord. We have no doubt that one day you will recognize the truth” affirmed one of the others.

  “Your support has been invaluable to us and to the spreading of the message of Yeshua" continued Saul.

  “My support is Joseph’s support, I just carry out his wishes on this matter.”

  “Your modesty commends you, Master Ahasver. You could have refused to support our cause a long time ago, when Joseph was in prison and with no perspective of freedom. You could have denounced us all to the authorities when the Council was persecuting us in those days. But, by the grace of the Lord and the Messiah, you remained silent and allowed us to go on with our preaching and our teachings. For us, you will always be remembered as a friend and a supporter, even if you won’t adhere to our creed.”

  How arrogant they were, when all that had happened was by the will of their messiah, as if we all were mere players in the grand plan of their savior. And stubborn too.

  “Please, won’t you tell us? We will not divulge your name to anyone, that we can promise in the name of Yeshua.”

  “Well, in that case I can tell you that our conversation lasted just a few seconds, and nothing worthy of note was exchanged. Your prophet was exhausted, thirsty, and he asked me for some water. I could not attend to his request as the legionnaires intervened, and he had to continue on his way. I am sorry to disappoint you, but that was all that really happened on that day.”

  “Do you recall His exact words?”

  Time… thou shall not want for time… thou will have all the time in the world until my return…

  “Regrettably not. He was very weak, and with all the shouting going on around I could not understand much of what was said.”

  “What a pity, Master Ahasver, and at such a crucial and significant moment” sighed Saul.

  “Master Ahasver, brother Cephas sends his greetings and his thanks for your diligence and continued support. He also asked me to invite you to come to share our rites. Just to listen to the messages of Yeshua. It is not only the converted, and the faithful who can participate, also the Gentiles and unbelievers are welcome.

  “Anyone can attend?” I asked surprised by such a notion.

  “Of course,” answered Saul, “our faith welcomes all who want to hear the words of the Savior.”

  “A strange cult,” I commented, “where anyone can participate.”

  “Anyone can hear the words of the Lord, but only the faithful understand and receive the Spirit of the Lord. We are not a pagan cult where only acolytes can participate. We do not have secret rites reserved for the initiated only.”

  “Just for curiosity,” I asked, “it is said that you drink blood during these rituals. Is it true?”

  “Yes and no” answered Saul.

  I could see that this Nazarene also liked ambiguity. I wondered if he was or had been a tradesman too.

  “The blood and the flesh of the Messiah are the only mysteries we practice in our rituals as He commanded to do in the last supper He had with his disciples. But be assured, it is not real blood or flesh, just symbols that represent to us His sacrifice. But do come one of these days to hear His word, and you will see for yourself what we mean.”

  “Maybe one day,” I could also be ambiguous, “and now, if you forgive me, we have to part, I do have some other urgent matters to attend to.”

  I gave them the money, and they hurriedly left, and I found myself thinking. If in Damascus they had already made over thirty conversions, how many had they achieved in the city? I still saw them occasionally preaching in the Temple, but the groups who were listening to them were not numerous, and were mostly made up of foreigners and pilgrims. But overall, my curiosity did not extend as far as to attend one of their meetings.

  Year 39

  Since diligence is the mother of experience, I now hardly depended on Isaac anymore, and he seldom came to the house since his marriage with Rebecca. And some months later, too few according to Ruth’s calculation, we once again had a Simon around the house, certainly smaller, but much more vociferous and restless than the previous one.

  My own son, Yeshua, continued to dedicate most of his time to the scriptures, tutored by Master Mordechai, and was now starting with his first lessons in Greek and latin, two languages that I was still trying to master. Although Ruth was not totally in favor of the teaching of these pagan languages, as she claimed, I had already learned through experience how useful both of them were for our daily activities, especially for those of us who worked with the Gentiles. Isaac also agreed with me on this. Father Simon certainly had had his shortcomings and vanities, but we all agreed that he made his best in providing us both with a good education.

  I also started to travel for business with more frequency, calling on customers and our own emporia in other cities of Judaea and Galilee. But it was in Caesarea where I bought my first house. Recent disturbances in that city had led some Greek and Syrian merchants to move to Sidon and Tyre, and as a consequence, property prices went sufficiently down to justify my investment.

  Ruth was not too pleased with this, considering it an extravagance, but, truth be said, she was not totally against it, and little complained when I took the family to the seaside to spend some days in that sunnier and milder city. Only Isaac was adamant that he could not understand why anyone would want to spend any time away from the holy city and much less in a city that he considered to be the meretricious Babylon of Judaea.

  Life was good and pleasant. We had everything we needed and
more, and I was increasingly seen as the natural successor to Joseph. And from Joseph I learned that he had finally arrived in Antioch. Through his letters, I could feel his enthusiasm and happiness with his new life, free as he had never felt, so he claimed. The Antiochenes were mostly descendants of Greeks, heathen and hedonistic, but they did not force their convictions and religious beliefs on anyone, and the city tolerated all religions, sects and cults.

  Joseph also commented that most of the Judaeans were of Greek origin, and very receptive to the messages of Yeshua, probably due to the distance from the Temple and our sacred soil. He kept mentioning some of his new friends in these narratives, and there were always references to Saul, now a committed preacher and one of their faith’s most arduous defenders. And every time I heard of anyone traveling to Antioch, I would also send letters to him, describing the more noteworthy events in Jerusalem. Not just regarding ourselves, the businesses and his friends, but also about the Nazarenes, once again visibly active with their preaching. This was partially due to the feebleness of the Sanhedrin, weakened when Antipas took a great number of the more senior and wiser councilors to Rome, to help with his defense before the Emperor in regard to several accusations brought against him.

  THE COUNCILLOR