by Paulo Barata
Year 40
On a late morning I was interrupted by one of the servants, visibly shaken, announcing that an important official was at the gate. Intrigued and curious to know who it might be, I went down and almost collided with Ioanis who was climbing the stairs to call me.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“Master, it’s the Nasi, Rabban Gamaliel !”
“Here? Are you sure?”
“Yes, of course. One of his servants announced it when I enquired.”
“Well then, clear the courtyard and open the gates. And tell someone to make sure that the atrium is made ready.”
It was indeed Gamaliel who stepped out of the litter.
“Rabban. May peace be unto you.”
“My friend Ahasver, and with you too in this lovely morning.”
“I am indeed honored to receive you, Rabban.”
But we did not go into the atrium. Gamaliel preferred the terrace.
“I’ve always liked this place. Joseph did a wonderful job in this terrace,” as he sat down in one of the couches, “I have spent some very pleasant afternoons under these shades. And, by the way, how is our dear friend these days?”
“Rabban, it has been some time since I last heard from him, I suppose it is not easy to find bearers for messages from Antioch. But I have recently received some goods I ordered, and I assume that all is well with him.”
“Let us hope that he returns to us soon. His absence is a loss to all.”
And we continued with mundane chatting while the servants brought some refreshments and appetizers.
“But let me tell you of the reason for this unannounced call. As you know, and in this town almost everything is known,” he said with a mischievous glance, “our great Council is at the moment incomplete with the departure of so many of our members for Rome We have been having a few problems dealing with some pressing issues.”
He went on after a quick sip of water.
“For this reason, some of us have been charged to draw up a list of candidates for membership to the Council, and I thought of you, Ahasver. That is if you accept of course.”
I was surprised, pleasantly surprised. It was a great honor to be part of the Council, and I believe my astonishment was all too visible to Gamaliel.
“Why so surprised?” he asked amused.
“Well, yes, of course, yes. I don’t know what to say…” I stuttered.
“That suffices or now, my friend. If you accept my proposal, I will put your name forward for consideration by the other judges and councilors.”
“Of course, Rabban, how could I refuse the honor?”
“But I still need to know something from you,” staring at me with arching eyebrows, “you are not a member of that Messianic sect, are you?”
“No!” I denied it vehemently, “But may I know why you ask?”
“I have heard some say that you have converted to this cult, or at least you sympathize with them, and also, that you have received them in this house recently. And,” he added, “it is known that some of the servants here are proselytes. I told you, in this town little escapes our attention.”
“Rabban let me be as forthright as you. I keep my faith, and I am a devoted follower of our laws. I will not deny that I have had dealings with some members of the sect, but also in the strictest confidence, this has happened because of Joseph. I do believe you understand of what I am talking about. Besides, I do know enough of this sect’s rites to find them abominable, and let us not even mention their messiah and his resurrection.”
“I do believe you, Ahasver. But it is important that you are not seen to be associated with them. Please do your best to ensure this. I’m sure that you will agree with me when I say that in these matters, it is more important the illusion than the reality. And since you have accepted my proposal, I will add your name to my list of candidates. Of course, I cannot guarantee that you will be accepted, but you will have my full backing.”
“Rabban, I am not sure…”
“You have doubts?”
“I know little of law and legal affairs.”
“My friend, right now we need sound practical sense in that council. We have enough legal doctors and masters of the laws, and besides, Joseph was a member, and not as a scholar, but for what he was and did for this city. It is only fair that you take up his seat.”
It was only when I received the summons for my first meeting as a full member of the Council that I realized what I was in for! I went to Gamaliel for some hints and instructions of the proceedings. Kindly, he helped me.
In that morning of my first attendance in Council, I left home very early in the company of Ioanis, wearing a brand new outfit. A cloak of light blue linen with stripes in a darker shade of blue and a tunic of smooth beige cotton of good cut, and embroidered with some delicate needlework in silvery thread. Ruth had been tireless in her search for the finest cloth and insistent when I protested with all her fuss.
On our way up to the Council chamber, I came across Gamaliel, not very talkative that morning, who was in the company of other members, and together we entered the large hall where some of our colleagues had already taken their seats.
Received by the chamberlain, each was directed to our rightful seats. Mine was almost at the back, since I was one of the junior members of the house. I recognized some familiar faces, some of whom I did not even know were members, and soon enough, with the entrance of the senior councilors, the Nasi and the High Priest, the session began.
On this particular occasion, the only issue under discussion was relative to a piece of news that had recently arrived in the city, that the Romans were building a statue of one of their pagan gods, Jupiter, I think it was, with the purpose of placing it within the Temple enclosure. The problem was aggravated, if such could be possible, since it was known that the statue was a request of the Emperor himself to the Governor of Syria, Publius Petronius, and a famous sculptor in Sidon had been commissioned to build it and was already working on it. Only someone completely ignorant of our customs could have thought of such an obscenity.
As soon as Gamaliel ended this announcement, everyone was quite astonished and the silence was total — something remarkable in that chamber. It was still fresh in our memories the riots that had broken out when it was known that Pilate wanted to bring into the city the ensigns of his troops. A statue of a pagan god in our holy city, and in the actual Temple, was unimaginable to us all. It would be a devastating catastrophe, that could only lead to a war against the Romans, and our own doom.
The ominous silence stretched on for minutes, until suddenly some started to raise from their seats, asking for permission to speak, while others removed their coats and silently tore their vests and tunics as a sign of profound indignation with such news. I kept still and quiet. I certainly did not want to speak nor did I want to tear my new garments.
To describe herewith the number of hours spent listening to everything from almost everyone, is pointless and exhaustive, but finally a most wise decision was taken, also something a bit unusual in such gatherings and in such heat.
It was agreed that two delegations should be formed. One was to be sent to Antioch, to make the Governor aware of the folly of this imperial command, and of the violence that would ensue if the whole thing was not contained in time. The other would go to Tiberias, and seek an audience with Agrippa, a Judaean and a known friend of the Emperor.
And suddenly I also had an idea. Since one of the delegations was to go to Antioch, I would offer myself to be part of it. I must admit that my main purpose was not to add my voice to the general indignation of the mission, but, influenced by the stories and narrations of Joseph, to visit that city and meet up with Joseph himself.
Hiding my less altruistic motives, and emphasizing my full aversion with such infamous imperial command, I offered myself to Gamaliel as a delegate.
“Ahasver, I can certainly recommend you, although you are very new to these affairs, bu
t I believe it will be accepted. And you get the chance to meet with Joseph, over there, am I right?" he said smiling at my too obvious interest. I was very transparent in those days.
“Rabban, you are a true sage in human nature!”
“I try to, but let me warn you, it’s a long trip, and it could be hard. No one knows how the Governor will react to our demands. Yes, I do think it will be difficult indeed.”
"My inclusion or the mission, Rabban?”
“Yes" he ambiguously answered.
“Well, I can assure you that I have no fear to set out on such a long journey, and I believe I can be pretty persuasive at times. After all, I’ve had some experience in trading with some pretty sharp customers.”
“I don’t doubt it. And, I must say, your age is also a good reason. Time has been generous to you my friend. I actually believe we will have a hard time finding some members who are young and willing enough to go on such a journey. Yes, you are right, you should go" he concluded.
Believing that Gamaliel’s conclusion would ensure my participation, I immediately started with the necessary preparations for the trip. There was a lot to do to leave everything in order, estimating that I could be away for at least four months. I had to buy provisions, tents, recruit an adequate escort, exchange money, and finish off some outstanding deals. And not less difficult and time consuming, I had to persuade Ruth of the importance of the journey and of my participation. Not just to me, of course, but for the welfare of us all.
So, I was not at all surprised when Gamaliel confirmed my inclusion in the delegation.
We departed from the city on a windy and dark morning, under the blessing of a priest, heavy rains and attended by some of the Council’s officers who came to see us off, including Gamaliel. He expressed his farewell with a warm embrace and some advice, as he gave me a large pack of correspondence to deliver in some of the cities that we would pass on our way.
My delegation consisted of five delegates, their servants, two guides and some guards to escort us during the long journey. The other had more members of the Council, as it had been considered that the mission to Agrippa would be more relevant for our cause than the one to the Roman Governor.
The two groups set out together on the road to Caesarea, and near to Dor, our delegation continued northwards through the Via Maris, while the other branched inland towards Galilee and Tiberias where Agrippa was holding court.
The journey up to Caesarea was the hardest for most members of the delegations, unused to ride on horseback for hours on end, up and down those serpentine paths. Already used to that route, I also complained to whoever listened about the complaints of the others. And I was impatient. I wanted to reach the coast where the road was better, the scenery was new to me, and the topography of the land more leveled and pleasant.
But still we were retained in Caesarea for almost two days, mainly for the anatomical recovery of the other delegates. Once again on the road, with everyone now more used to the rigors of travel, we actually started to make good progress and were soon in Tyre, where we were received by the local Judaean community. From there to Sidon we took two days, and decided to spent the Shabbat in that city and at the same time find the sculptor and check on the progress of the infamous work.
Some quick investigative work took us to the workshop of Laertus, a Greek artisan and sculptor, who proudly showed us his work. It was, to be frank, a very beautiful statue, all done in a most white marble, which once ready and fully setup would be at least four to five meters tall, and we did panic when we saw that it was almost ready. Laertus complained bitterly that his work was late, as well as his payment, as he was still waiting for a bust of the recently deified Caesar to complete the head of Jupiter.
Now, even more disgusted with the whole thing, we left more determined than ever to make haste for Antioch. If it was unthinkable to have a statue of Jupiter in our Temple, we could hardly imagine what it would be like to have one of the new god Caligula!
In that same evening it was even suggested by some that we should attempt to destroy the work already done by the sculptor, but in the end we agreed that it would not solve anything, it would just delay the problem. Our hope was with Agrippa and the Governor.
More frenetic, we quickly set for Berytus and Byblos, cities where there were also large Judaean communities, to whom we would inform of our mission. Arwad, Antaradus and Laodicea were the next cities, and nearly forty long days after our departure from Jerusalem we finally reached the gates of Antioch.
The city is laid out in an immense valley and has nothing, but nothing, in common with my Jerusalem. It is a green city, a humid, lushly, sweet-smelling green, with coniferous trees doting the landscape, spread throughout the low hills and up the slopes of the surrounding mounts. In the far distance, in days of good visibility, it is possible to see snow-capped violaceous mountains, and throughout the plain, the city reaches far beyond the river course in whose margins one can admire magnificent and luxurious villas in Roman and Greek styles. After that long journey, it was not just our destination but a veritable oasis.
Having sent one of our guides ahead of us, we were received by a small entourage, who were aware of our mission and took us into the Kerateion, the Judaean quarter, where we took quarters in the residence of a wealthy merchant. On the morning of the day after our arrival, one member of the local council was dispatched to the palace to seek an audience with the Governor.
Simultaneously, I started to make enquiries after Joseph. I was eager to see him and to deliver the correspondence that I had brought. But it wasn’t an easy task to locate him. Joseph was a common name, and I was given many leads and possibilities, but after some more detailed questioning, none proved to be the right person. I sent some servants to look for him in the warehouses and emporia close to the river, more to the east, and I visited some of our temples enquiring after him.
I then remembered the Nazarenes. The city was very diverse, and there were many temples dedicated to various divinities, and not just Greek or Roman, but of other more obscure religions. Through his letters, I knew that the Nazarenes were well known in the city so I decided then to look also for Saul, as Joseph had also mentioned that he was now a known preacher in the city.
Curiously, my Judaean friends knew very well who Saul was.
While we waited for a date to be set for an audience with Publius Petronius, I had time to spare and to explore the city. I was delighted with its extensive gardens and parks, the statuary, the fountains and the general voluptuousness of Greek architecture. How rudimentary, it seemed to me then, our city of Jerusalem! How provincial were our clayey edifices and heavy construction when compared to the lightness of those temple arcades, the airy loftiness of basilicas and palaces in rosy and white marble. How beautiful the statues that seemed to secure immense balconies, flanked majestic porticoes and complemented colonnades in perfect harmony. I have no doubt that it was in Antioch that I became an ardent and enthusiastic admirer of Hellenic aesthetics.
Also the cosmopolitanism of the city was to be seen in the different races sporting splendorous attires, promenading those wide avenues and arboreal boulevards. Faces of all kinds and complexions, wearing silky clothes of too bright colors, dyed beards, eyes highlighted by hennaed ornaments and hairdos set in exquisite statuesquely shapes. Proud officials in their togas of pristine white, Phoenician merchants grouped in agitated conversations, ebony muscular slaves and even tattooed Germanic warriors.
Once I knew the whereabouts of the Nazarene temple — yes, to my amazement that is exactly what I was told! — I rented a sedan chair and I was driven to a brick building of indiscernible style, that was located on the side of a marketplace. Seeing that both doors were wide open, I walked into a large chamber filled with different sized chairs and stools, all lined towards a small dais.
In one side of the hall, people were sitting in a circle around someone. Some looked Judaean, judging by their attires, and some others seemed to be Parthians
, due to the style of their meticulously cut beards.
When they saw me approaching, one of them stood up and came towards me.
“Khaire, peace be unto you” he saluted, partially raising his arm.
I greeted him back and came closer to the group.
In the meantime, the person they were listening to, also stood up, and it was Saul, clearly astonished to see me there.
“Master Ahasver! Brother Ahasver. I can’t believe it. You in Antioch?” he repeated effusively, apparently happy to find me there.
“Yes, Saul. As you can see!”
“Welcome in the name of Jesus, the Christ, to our first ecclesia.”
“This is your main temple?” I asked.
“Yes, Ahasver. It’s where we gather to hear the teachings and perform our rites.”
“An empty hall. Not even an altar?”
“Why would we need one?” he enquired, amused with my perplexity.
“For the solemn rituals?”
“We have very few of those, brother.”
“No offerings or sacrifices?”
“No, no” he was now smiling, amused with my questioning.
“I would have thought you had them in your main temple.”
“Ahasver, we believe that our prayers are quite sufficient for the Lord. Why sacrifice innocent animals?”
“Well, you continue to sound blasphemous to me” I said grimly.
“Not at all. The immolation that is performed in the Temple in Jerusalem is an inheritance of the olden days, when we lived in the darkness of our ignorance of the Christ. Just like the pagans still do.”
“Well, I believe in what I read in the scriptures and such offerings and sacrifices are clearly commanded by the Lord.”
“And there has been no higher sacrifice than that of our Christ.”
“If you say so, Saul. I am just a believer in what is written in the scriptures. I don’t interpret them, unlike you, who insist on doing it.”
“Ahasver, let us lay aside our differences for now.”
“You’re right, I apologize for my comments. Anyway, I’m looking for Joseph.”
“Yes, of course, I thought so. When I saw you now, I didn’t think you were here as a brother in our faith.”
“Of all place in Antioch?” I replied smiling.
I dispensed with the sedan chair, per Saul’s suggestion, as the house of Joseph was not far from that temple of theirs. Saul looked much leaner now than when I had met him, and signs of age were more pronounced in that face of his, now beardless, but his eyes still had that stubborn gleam. And I finally met with Joseph, who seemed to my eyes to have aged considerably, looking even more debilitated than when I had seen him leave the prison at the Antonia fortress. The years had not been too gentle with my friend.
After the first reactions and emotions of our reunion, amidst profuse embraces, we eventually sat down and began one of the many conversations that would be repeated throughout the next days. Despite our regular exchange of letters and messages, words were always easier and fed longer discussions. Joseph wanted to know about everything and everyone in Jerusalem. I was curious about him and his activities, his projects and future endeavors.
He was still very much in the known about the situation in Judaea. He maintained regular contact with his friends, not only in Jerusalem, but also in Caesarea, Tiberias, Damascus, Corinth and even Rome and Alexandria. He was also well aware of the delegation that had gone to Tiberias, telling me that Agrippa had accepted the commission to go to Rome and speak on our behalf to Caesar.
“You know, Ahasver, even the Governor here is reluctant in fulfilling the orders of the Emperor in regards to that statue. He has done his utmost to delay the whole thing. Even the bust of the Emperor is still here in the city, despite the fact that he was supposed to have it sent to Sidon on its arrival.”
“You mean to say that our trip was unnecessary? We are not going to accomplish anything?”
“No, no. It’s important. The Council was wise in sending you here. Politically speaking. It could be problematic if you had only appealed to Agrippa. Jerusalem is dependent on this Governor and owes no formal allegiance to the Tetrarch of Samaria and Galilee.”
“But surely he knows of the mission to Agrippa and of his departure to Rome.”
“Yes, he was there in Tiberias too. But you can claim, and with reason, that your trip took longer to get here. He’ll understand that. The important thing is that you are here now.”
“But Joseph, how do you know all this?" I questioned him puzzled.
“Through friends, of course. We do have friends in the palace,” and he added smugly, “brothers, Ahasver, brothers in our faith.”
“Messianics?”
“Christians, is how we are known in the city. Disciples and followers of Jesus the Christ.”
We were talking in our common Aramaic, but these new words were said in koine.
“Why all this Hellenism with words?”
“Saul,” asked Joseph, “you can explain it better to Ahasver.”
“Of course, brother Joseph. In the beginning, Ahasver, we started our conversions with our Judaean brethren, mainly with those who were disappointed with our religion, who were tired of a message that had not evolved in the last thousand years nor had improved the conditions of the chosen people.”
“But Saul,” I argued immediately, “first, the truth is timeless and the word of the Lord is immortal and everlasting. It’s not supposed to change with the passage of time or to accommodate the restless…”
“I agree up to a point, Ahasver. The scriptures have always announced the coming of a savior, a messiah, an age that would bring peace and prosperity for all. And the Messiah has come! It is Yeshua, who preached peace, a message of hope for all, not only in the context of the Torah, but going beyond it.”
“So you keep interpreting the sacred commands. Like most heretics, you also modify the scriptures to suit your beliefs.”
“We are faithfully applying the teachings of the Messiah. He is the only one who can interpret the messages of His Father. None of us denies the divine origin of the Torah, Ahasver. We all follow the Lord. But you need to understand that the Messiah, as the son and an integral part of the Lord, has much more authority to interpret it than any other prophet before Him.”
“Right, but you still haven’t explained the Hellenism. You know that the Torah is written in Hebraic and should not be translated from its original language, it’s too sacred for that.”
“That’s not quite true. Are you not aware that there is a Greek translation of the Torah? They call it the Septuagint and some temples have been using it.”
“I didn’t know that, I must admit.”
“And, Ahasver, I can tell you in confidence that we have converted some Gentiles to our faith. Even now Joseph was mentioning some of our brothers in the palace, and yes, it is true, we have some staffers and scribes and even servants who are converts. They are new Christian Judaeans. They have followed all the commands and the rituals required for conversion. It is for them and for the other Gentiles that we are translating the messages of Yeshua, and also for the Judaeans, the ones who are Greek speakers, here in the city and throughout the empire.”
“Ahasver,” said Joseph softly grabbing my shoulder, “I still believe that one day you will join us in our faith.”
“Joseph, I think you know me well enough to know that I am satisfied with my beliefs. You see, I have no doubts about my faith. Don’t ever take my tolerance for acceptance. I will not betray the faith of my fathers and of my ancestors who were expelled from Babylon for their religious beliefs in the Lord.”
I believe I was very emphatic with Joseph on that day, and we seldom returned to discussions involving religion again.
Still waiting for the gubernatorial audience, I visited him every day, and he was a tireless guide.
Together we strolled in leisurely pace the giant portico that starts in the eastern gate and goes on f
or over ten stadia until it reaches the forum, a most impressive and splendid sight to behold. We visited the main island where the imperial palace is located, and we saw some games in the hippodrome next to it. How the Antiochenes were fanatical about those games ! We admired the architecture of the new temples in the recently built forum of Tiberius, and watched with morbid fascination the bloody slaughter of a bull on the altar of Jupiter. We explored the Syrian quarters, on the other side of the island, where I tried some of their exotic delicacies, and also attended the presentation of some hilarious comedies and plays in the theatre of the Caesars, built almost on the hillside of mount Silpius.
But I must say that it was in the agora where I spent most of my time, listening to discourses and lectures of true masters in rhetoric and oratory, proffered by well known orators from the cities of Greece and Rome. I have no doubts at all, that it was there, where I learned to be even more curious and inquisitive with all that surrounds me. Even Joseph, at first reticent, came to agree with me that some of those locutions were brilliant and truly insightful. There we heard of the cosmos, of the universe, and of the nature of celestial bodies. And it was also there that I first heard the word philosophy, probably the most beautiful word that I know of, coined by the famous Pythagoras of Samos.
I don’t know for how much longer I would have remained in Antioch, if it had not been for the news of the murder of the young Caesar. We now had a new Emperor, his uncle Claudius. A scholar, according to Joseph, but also an eccentric, in Saul’s opinion.
By coincidence, or probably not, almost immediately we were called to the palace where the Governor thanked us for our efforts in bringing the message from the Sanhedrin to his attention, and informed us that the statue would not be placed in Jerusalem. He added that his new instructions from Rome were to destroy the existing statue. He also informed us that Agrippa had been proclaimed King of most of Palestine by the new Emperor, and so Judaea and Jerusalem were no more part of his domain of Syria.
Jubilant with this news, we congratulated ourselves on this unexpected success, and some even went so far as to discreetly thank the Lord for the removal of such a deranged enemy of our faith. Mission accomplished, we immediately started with the arrangements for our return home.
Even more difficult than that hard and long journey, was now having to say goodbye to Joseph. It is said that departing is always a loss, and Joseph was very taciturn on that last afternoon that we spent together. The last time we had said our farewells in Jerusalem, I had had strange and evil premonitions, but fortunately nothing bad had happened.
“Joseph,” I asked as we sat on one of the marble benches next to the temple of Saturn, “don’t you ever think of returning home?”
“Ahasver, I am home.”
“I meant Jerusalem.”
“Who knows what the future may bring?”
A question answered by another question. I could see that I was not the only one attentive to the oratory in the agora.
“I do think of returning. I hope to. I still have the two tombs over there” he answered smiling.
“Where did that come from?”
“I learned the other day, through some Thracians, that elephants know when they are dying, and at that time they embark on a journey to a certain place in the south. The same place where previous generations also went to die.”
“Are there elephants in Thrace? Or is this one of your wild tales?” I asked smiling, trying to dissipate his dark mood. I have never seen such creatures, but I had heard of them from father, when he retold us stories of the adventures of our Babylonian ancestors.
“I don’t think there are. But these Thracians were mercenaries in Ctesiphon, and the Persians are known to use these beasts in their wars.”
“And thus, you who are not even an elephant, have also chosen your ultimate place of rest.”
“Sort of… yes... when my time comes, I’ll do as the elephants, and go south.”
THE PATRIOT