(AN: New chapter!)

(As much as we would love to have a conversion like that of Raf Sha'ul be simple, accepted and relatively painless, we must account that it would not be so in real life. It would be like, well, if your best friend, brother, sister, parent or child, was murdered, and the murderer then became a Christian and came to your door, asking for forgiveness. I mean, Christians are expected to forgive, but it would not be easy, would it?)

Escape from Damascus

"Saul of Tarsus," old Ananias said. "You are about to enter into a new brotherhood, with the new covenant of Joshua the Messiah. Do you believe with all your heart that Joshua of Nazareth, the Messiah, is the Son of HaShem?"

They stood in the midst of the cold Amanah river, the most important river in Damascus, on a day when the river was high. John and Nicholas were upon the banks, serving as witnesses - it already seemed too incredible when old Ananias returned, saying that Raf Sha'ul wanted to be baptized and that he would receive the Ruach HaKodesh. They would need at least two witnesses to carry this back to the others when word eventually got out - and it would.

"I believe it so," Saul replied. "With all my heart."

"Then, as we are instructed to do," Ananias said. "By none other than Joshua Himself, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Ruach HaKodesh." In one swift motion, old Ananias immersed the Pharisee in the water, then brought him forth from out of the water, dripping wet. Yet there was a smile on Saul's face as he entered the robe that Nicholas and John had for him.

"What is it?" Ananias asked as he made his way up out of the river.

"A thought just came to mind," Saul answered him. "That by this baptism, and my decision to follow the Messiah, I am dead to the old ways of my life."

"That's called being born again," John stated. At Saul's curious inquiry, he related what Joshua had said that night with Nicodemus.

"The old has gone," Saul commented, after John had finished speaking. "Behold, all things become new. I am born into the service of Joshua, I feel that I should have a new name."

"A new name?" Barnabas queried.

"Yes," the Pharisee returned.

"What's wrong with Sha'ul?" Nicholas queried. "It means 'that which has been prayed for.'"

"It's also the name of the first king of Israel," he retorted. "All he did was oppose the will of HaShem, even so far as inquiring after the witch of Endor. No, in my youth I opposed HaShem and His son: I was worthy of the name Sha'ul then, but no more."

"Well, what shall you call yourself now?" Ananias asked. But the Pharisee wasn't paying attention.

"I need to go, now." he said. "To the synagogue. I am being called to spread the good news!"

"But you can't go now!" Barnabas said. "You haven't eaten anything in three days!"

"The will of Joshua cannot see any delay!"

"You can't be collapsing in the middle of your speech!" Ananias said.

"The Ruach HaKodesh will keep me standing!"

"Please, brother," John said. "For our sakes, then. Share in our hospitality."

"Yes, just a little bit of food," Nicholas said. "Then you may be on your way."

Seeing that he was thoroughly out-voted, Saul conceded and returned to Ananias' house for the mid-day meal. When they arrived, it was to the surprise of more than a few. Thomas, Matthew, Lucas, Miriam the Elder and Miriam of Magdala were quite surprised at seeing, of all people, he who had been Chief Inquisitor, now under the roof with them and greeting them as if he were one of their own. After it had been explained to them what had happened, Miriam of Magdala became more amicable toward him: she knew what it was like to be an outcast, and would never put anyone else through that shame.

So they ate, and Saul listened with eagerness as Miriam the Elder, John and Miriam of Magdala told him all that they knew concerning Joshua. For their part, Lucas and Matthew got to hear the rest of the nativity story, including what happened after the Eastern noblemen bestowed gifts to the child, and a funny story about a twelve-year-old Joshua in the Temple among the Pharisees. Of course, Matthew couldn't help interjecting about every point where Joshua had fulfilled some prophecy of old. The others looked on him with thinly-veiled annoyance, save for Saul.

"You see it too?" he asked, with wonder in his voice. Matthew looked on him a little friendlier after this.

While they were concluding, with the last few portions of the story, Saul looked on with amazement, trying to take in all that he had heard. The others, it seemed, must have noticed this, for they asked him about why his face seemed crinkled with concern, and why his eyes looked on the verge of tears.

"It's so strange," he said. "That the hearing of all the acts that Joshua did, they seem so amazing. And when you spoke of His death, I felt so small in my own eyes. So...unimportant."

"You're not unimportant, Saul," Miriam of Magdala said. "None of us are. Joshua never treated us as everyone else did."

"Yet I..." Saul muttered. "How am I not the least of you believers? I was your enemy, and now I come to you, practically in rags, with nothing more than my faith in Joshua. I am indeed the least."

"Well, listen to this, paulos," Matthew said to Saul. "Joshua said that even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the mightiest prophet, even greater than John the Baptizer, if you'll believe that!"

"And Joshua's word is the word of God," Miriam said, speaking His name rather than HaShem.

"And the word of HaShem is not false," Matthew said. "So said the prophet..."

"Malachi," Saul finished. A lengthy but pensive silence followed.

"Why not paulos?" Barnabas asked. They looked at him. "For his name. He wanted a new name, why not paulos?"

"That's not nice, Barnabas!" Miriam of Magdala retorted. "That was like Philip calling James Bar-Alphaeus 'little' James."

"Actually, that's not a bad idea," Saul returned. "After all," He walked over to Barnabas' side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "I'm not that tall to begin with."

This elicited peels of laughter from those at the table. As they were thus engaged in their mirth, Joanna walked by and came to a halt at the sight of the Pharisee. The others silenced their laughter. Miriam of Magdala pulled herself away from the group and came to Joanna's side.

"What is he doing here?" she asked, with a venomous glare in Saul's direction.

"He's been baptized," Ananias said. "He's not our enemy anymore."

Joanna strode across the room, glaring down at Saul with an angry look in her eye.

"What happened to her?" she asked. "What happened to Miriam, wife of Cleopah? You murderer!"

Just as it seemed she was about to attack him, Miriam of Magdala held her back, with Miriam the elder joining her.

"She was my friend!" Joanna screamed, breaking down into tears as she cried out at him. The two Miriam women took their weeping friend away. Yet the damage was done, and the mood did not lighten after this encounter.

Saul took a seat off by himself, resting his face in his hands. John, Lucas and Barnabas came to his side, sitting in a semi-circle around him.

"Not to sound harsh, brother," Lucas said. "But this was inevitable."

"I know," Saul sighed. "I expect nothing less than a stoning if I show myself before the other believers."

"But that's not to be," John said. "Joshua told us to forgive our brothers who sin against us."

"Even what I've done?" Saul asked.

"Even seventy-times seven!" John returned.

"Don't worry," Barnabas said. "Though it may be a while, they can forgive you, and they will."

"Why should they?" Saul asked, sorrow in his voice.

"Because," John said. "Our LORD Joshua has told us that if we do not forgive men for their trespasses, our Father which is in Heaven shall not forgive us. But most importantly, we forgive because He forgave us, the Son of God, who is our LORD and Savior."

Saul smiled, though this seemed a little too good to be true.

The Sabbath finally arrived and the synagogue of Damascus was filled. As was the custom, the men were seated at the front of the room, nearest to where the rabbi would be reading the Torah, with the women at the back, separated from their husbands by a partition through which they could hear and see, from a respectable distance. Once all were seated, the rabbi brought forth a copy of the Torah and read from it a passage from the prophet Isaiah, concerning the Messiah.

After it was written, the rabbi asked the congregation if they had anything to add or say concerning this passage. Slowly, the bald-headed Pharisee rose from among the congregation of the men and addressed them all.

"Brothers," he said. "People of Israel, I tell you that these words of Isaiah have indeed come to pass in the man and person of Joshua of Nazareth, who is the Messiah and, if you will believe, the Son of HaShem!"

Gasps arose from those in the crowd. Yet the Pharisee remained standing.

"Who are you, rabbi," the old rabbi asked. "That you should say such things? Some might call it blasphemy!"

"I am Paul," the bald Pharisee said. "The least among you, yet I have good tidings of great joy to bring to you all. Joshua of Nazareth lives and sits at the right hand of..."

"Isn't he Sha'ul of Tarsus?" a woman's voice shouted from the back toward her husband, somewhere sitting among the men.

"Joshua, who was the fulfillment of the Torah," Paul continued. "Gave Himself up to be crucified. It was not done by the power of the Pharisees or the sons of Israel, but He laid His life down of His own..."

"Isn't he the one who's been killing anyone who calls on the name of Joshua?" another woman's voice asked from the crowd.

"Please, let me finish!" Paul replied. "It is wonderful news, people of Israel! Our consolation has come! Behold, salvation awaits for all those who..."

"What is he doing here?" a third woman's voice asked. "I thought he was bringing a warrant for the arrest of the Cultists of the Way!"

"I implore you all!" Paul continued, trying hard to keep from saying something spiteful. "Believe that Joshua is the Son of HaShem, be baptized into His Spirit of Holiness, and you will be saved!"

Days passed and soon it was reported throughout Damascus that Saul of Tarsus, now called Paul, had defected to the Cult of the Way. For a while, no one on either side could understand what to make of it. At the house of Ananias, the other believers who gathered there also were amazed at what they had heard, at the very best.

What happened with Joanna wasn't the least of the bad things that occurred to Paul while he remained there. Many of the believers lost loved ones and friends to him during his days as the Chief Inquisitor, and some were so devastated that they did not spend but a few moments around him. This changed slowly, with more and more people warming up to him, but there was still an air of tension whenever Paul entered the room.

One afternoon, the believers remained in the house of Ananias. It would be the last that Lucas and Nicholas would remain here, for they were long over-due in their return to Antioch. They were gathered here, along with Paul, to determine where each would go after this parting.

"I say what I have said before," Barnabas stated, looking at Paul. "You should go to Jerusalem."

"He's right," Lucas added. "The others must know that you are now a believer, and that you have received the Ruach HaKodesh."

"I still think the time is not right," Paul replied, his beard shaking with his head. "It's too soon since I was the Chief Inquisitor."

"Sooner is much better than later," John added.

Paul nodded. "And where will you go?"

"Miriam," John said, then remembered that there were two women with that name here present. "Well, mother, I mean: she is going with Lucas to Antioch. I am going with her, since the Master charged me to take care of her."

"That's kind of you, John," Miriam said. "But there is no need to worry. Miriam of Magdala is more than willing to come with me."

"Still," John replied. "I have my duty to carry out."

The door behind them opened, and they saw Joanna appear. They smiled and gave a friendly shalom in her direction: she returned the gesture, but averted her eyes when she came to Paul.

"We'll leave in the morning," Lucas said. "I think we have everything ready. What about you, Paul? When will you leave?"

"First light, if sooner is better than later," Paul returned.

"That's impossible."

All eyes turned to the speaker. Joanna looked a little abashed, with everyone now looking at her, and she lowered her gaze. They remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"Please, do go on." Lucas urged.

"I heard in the market-place," she said. "That the rabbis of the synagogue have men watching the gates, day and night. They mean to kill him." She pointed to Paul. Gasps arose from the others at this shocking news.

"What shall we do?" Barnabas asked.

"I do not wish to remain in Damascus the rest of my life," Paul said. "No offense, Ananias. I have a commission from HaShem and His Son to spread the good news to the world!"

"Couldn't we hire a cart," Lucas suggested. "And hide Paul in the back, under a covering?"

"No, that won't work," Paul dismissed. "They will make certain to search every cart, especially if they're watching the gates."

"Then what can we do?" Barnabas asked.

"Find another way out of the city. Perhaps over the walls, like Rahab of old."

Once again, the speaker was Joanna. Lucas commended her ingenuity, and asked Ananias if there were any believers who had houses on the side of the city wall. Suddenly, Paul stood up.

"No, I cannot allow you to do this," he interjected. "If you're found with me, they'll kill you for sure."

"So?" Barnabas asked.

"'So?'" Paul returned. "I do not want your blood on my hands because you throw your lives away for one who was your enemy!"

"You're one of us, Paul," John replied. "Joshua said that the greatest love is that of a man giving his life for his brother, just as He gave His life for us."

"John is right," Lucas said. "We know the risks, and we're still seeing you to safety."

Paul gave in, since there was no way that he could stop them. While they were busy making plans, Joanna walked toward him.

"I'm sorry," she said. "About my outburst. I spoke in anger, it was wrong of me."

"No," Paul said. "You were right. I was in the wrong, for what I did to you, and to your friend."

"You thought you were doing the will of HaShem," she replied, trying to keep herself together. "The Master taught us forgiveness: I should have shown you that forgiveness also."

"No, lady," Paul shook his head. "It is I should be asking for your forgiveness."

"Then let us forgive each other," she sighed. Paul nodded.

"I forgive you." he said.

She broke down in tears, then, much to Paul's surprise, threw her arms around his shoulders. He looked a little stunned, since this was entirely against etiquette. From his shoulder came Joanna's sobs, and a quiet, tear-felt statement:

"I forgive you."

Nightfall. Under cover of darkness walked Ananias, Nicholas, Barnabas, Miriam of Magdala and Joanna, with Paul in the middle of them. They suspected that, in numbers, it would be easier to conceal Paul than if he went alone. They made their way through the streets of Damascus, coming to the eastern wall of the city and the house of their friend. Old Ananias knocked and his friend appeared. After Ananias hastily explained their predicament to him, he nodded and stepped back, allowing the others to enter the house.

"So, what's the plan?" Paul asked.

"Over here, to the window!" the friend urged, waving them over. "We'll put you in this," He pointed to a large basket lying on the floor. "And lower you down outside the city wall."

Paul chuckled. "It's a good thing I'm not very tall, or I wouldn't be able to fit in there!"

"You make too much light of a serious situation, if I may say," the friend stated. "But, as you wish."

"And what about the rest of you?" Paul asked the others, as he and the believer carried the basket to the edge of the window.

"We're going to help lower the basket down," Barnabas said. "Once you're out of the city, hide in the mountains to the east. I'll meet you there in the morning and we'll go to Jerusalem together."

"You put yourselves in great danger on my account," Paul reminded them.

"It is as it should be," Miriam of Magdala stated. She waved Paul over, and he came forth.

"Well," Barnabas said. "It is time to go. Joshua willing, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait!" Paul said. He then reached into his robes and pulled out a hefty scroll and gave it to Barnabas.

"What is this?"

"A copy of the Torah," Paul said. "Give this to Lucas with my regards and the blessing of HaShem."

"It shall be done," Barnabas returned. "Now quickly! Get inside!"

Paul got into the basket, which the others raised up and brought to the window sill. Their friend tied a rope to the basket and then they all took a hand on the rope and began to slowly lower it out of the city. The time seemed to drag on, and they feared that, at any moment, they might be discovered. After what seemed like an eternity, the taut rope finally slackened. Barnabas peeped out the window and saw Paul waving his arms at the bottom.

"Farewell, and shalom." Barnabas called back, waving since he could not raise his voice. With this, Paul turned off into the darkness and was soon lost to their searching eyes.

(AN: The Amanah river, for those who are interested, actually is a real river in Damascus, though it is known as the Barada river. I used the name Amanah since it sounds more...native. [Imo, since I've already seen Return of the Jedi and The Day the Earth Stood Still, I associate Barada with those, not with the river in Damascus. Lol, just my own two cents].)

(That last bit about Paul giving a copy of the Torah to Barnabas to give to Lucas is part of another sub-plot, which I've established earlier. Can you guess?)