I Appeal To Caesar!

members, however, take a liking to Saul and invite him to accompany them on their trips to various towns in Judea or perhaps even Galilee. One such occasion, when Saul is twenty-five years old, proves significant. Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, invites him to go to Jericho and hear the visiting rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, lecture on the Scripture and pray for the sick.

“Why should I go,” asked Saul, “is there something

special about this man?”

“Yes, indeed!” replied Nicodemus, “There is!”

“Jesus has suddenly come upon the religious scene, supposedly healing people and bringing insightful teaching on how a person can live for God. Some say He is a prophet and fulfills prophecies in the sacred scrolls. “Jesus is a cousin of that desert preacher John the Baptist who incidentally baptized Jesus in the Jordan River; now, Jesus’ disciples have also started baptizing people in the Jordan, echoing John’s great announcement that ‘the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Also, some say John openly declared that this Jesus is the Messiah! You and I need to be updated on such new developments.” “It is amazing,” Nicodemus ponders aloud, “that Jesus is uneducated, a carpenter . . . and comes from Nazareth.” * * * * * The two Pharisees arrive at the outskirts of Jericho and find hundreds of people already gathered and getting situated in an open field; late-comers are still arriving. A