The door slammed against the wall, and Paul jolted up from his chair.
A young man limped through the doorway, his bearded face muddied and bruised. An old believer was limping in his right arm; his chest bellowed to take in breath, and a nasty bruise was blossoming in his shoulder. A Roman soldier was staggering in the young man's left arm; half the face was covered in blood, and a crimson trail of unknown origin dribbled behind him.
"As surely as the Lord lives," said Paul. "John, what happened?"
"Marauders...went after the guards...We were caught up in it..." The young man hobbled along into the next room. "Set Thaddeus in the chair...I'll get some wine for the soldier's wounds..."
Paul's face crumpled in indignation. "What about Thaddeus?"
John ignored him and guided the soldier to the bed.
"Why aren't you helping our brother?"
"His wounds are superficial...Lucanus' wounds are not..."
"You know the law: Brothers first. You are disobeying a command from our Lord."
With a sigh, John rose up and looked the old saint in the face. "Maybe I am," he said. "But it's the right thing to do."
A/n: The law Paul cites is found in Galatians 6:10: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."