I Appeal To Caesar!

“Also, by the way, I hear he has bumped heads with another young, popular, charismatic Torah-teacher, Stephen by name, in the Greek-speaking synagogues in Jerusalem. “There is yet another plus: Saul has become a favorite speaker in the synagogues of Israel; the people simply drool over his expositions! “Oh, and, one other juicy side benefit: it will (ah, yes!) humble the great Gamaliel, putting him in his place; this man has been ‘a thorn in the flesh’ long enough!”

All heads bob in assent, as they voice a hearty “Amen!”

(“Wow, that point really went over!” )

“Third,” Caiaphas, feeling himself on a roll, announces that “Stephen that Jesus-orator stirring so many people with his message and so-called miracles must be silenced —immediately!”

Four hands shoot upward, accompanied by another

hearty “Amen!”

Nervousness leaves the priest, his eyes flame with anger. He seizes the fringes of his robe in one hand and lifts the other hand high, with a tight fist as he waxes eloquent, suddenly making h is dark intention known!

“Stephen will be the first step in our ‘purge’!

• “The rigged ‘trial’ will be quick, with appropriate Council members in attendance; loud-mouthed paid witnesses will take over. • Stephen will be quickly hustled away to ‘The Stoning