(AN: Thank you Carol Molliniere for your review; it's nice to know I'm not the only one who likes this story [lol].)
The Good and the Bad
None of them could have foreseen what would happen after the celebration of the Shavuot. Daily, people were walking up to the Eleven or to the Seventy and telling them of their desire to be baptized in the name of Joshua the Messiah. Soon the Upper Room became too small to house them all, and the Disciples had to go from house to house among those who believed and minister to them as such.
Early on, many of those who were newly joined to this new movement, called The Cult of the Way by many of the elders of Israel, saw that the Disciples were poor men and women. Therefore, out of the charity of their hearts, many gave them their goods, or sold all that they had and gave the money to them; of a free heart and a free will, as those who built the Tabernacle in the wilderness. These were usually given to Peter, the foreman of the group, who would in turn disperse it to which-ever believer had need, and gave generosly to the poor, orphans and widows.
So it was that one day, as the noon was fast approaching, Peter communed with those in the Upper Room. Many more believers were traipsing through, to deliver their gifts to the Disciples. As this was going on, two men approached Peter.
"I was told," the first, a young man, said. "That this is where I should come to find Simeon, who is named Peter, of the Way."
"I am Peter," the disciple nodded.
"My name is Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus," the young man said. "I heard some of the fellow believers preaching of Joshua, and my heart was moved by what was said." He presented a sack bulging with denarii, and placed it at Peter's feet. "Please accept this gift, it's all I have."
"Do not be afraid, Joseph of Cyprus," Peter said. "For you shall receive consolation from the LORD because of this gift. Barnabas I name you, because of this gift. Go in peace."
Barnabas nodded, bowed, then departed. As he was leaving, the second fellow, a handsome looking gentleman, appeared before Peter, and presented a sack of coins as well.
"One hundred denarii," the man said. "The price of my vineyard, to the followers of the Way."
But as the gentleman prepared to leave, something compelled Peter to press the gentleman to details regarding this gift.
"Tell me," Peter said. The gentleman paused, awaiting what would come next. "Is this indeed the price of your vineyard?"
"I swear by HaShem's unspeakable name," Ananias replied. "A hundred was all they would give me."
"Tell me this also, Ananias," Peter said, rising to his feet. "Your vineyard, was it not yours before you sold it?"
"Uh," Ananias stammered, a little surprised that Peter knew his name without introduction. "Well, yes."
"And after you sold it, was not the revenue within your power to do with it as you will?" Peter continued.
"I suppose so," Ananias replied. "Look, why does it matter? I gave you the price for my vineyard. Every last denarii of it!"
"Why has Satan convinced you to deceive the Ruach HaKodesh?" Peter said at last. "For certainly, you sold the vineyard for six hundred denarii, and have kept the majority of the revenue for yourself. Yea, your deception was not before men, but before God Himself!"
Immediately, Ananias collapsed to the floor. Gasps rose from those assembled here, and many, fearing to touch a dead thing, stepped back in shock. Peter summoned John and told him to find a group of grave-diggers who could be hired. He then deposited the one hundred denarii that Ananias had given him to John, telling him to pay the grave-diggers with it.
"A hundred's a bit much for just one person," John said.
"I fear we have not seen the end of wonders for this day," Peter replied.
Three hours later, the deed had been done and Peter and John were now preparing to go to the Temple for the hour of prayer. The rest of the gifts had been delegated to the others, since they were now to be preaching and praying. Just as they were almost ready, the door opened below and a woman in blue robes approached Peter.
"Good day, sir," she nodded, keeping her eyes averted. "I am Sapphira, wife of Ananias. He left the house this morning, telling me that he was coming here, but he hasn't returned."
Just then, the same inclination that Peter had before suggested once again...
"Were you privy to the sale of his vineyard?" Peter asked.
"Well, yes." she returned.
"Tell me truthfully now," Peter said. "When Ananias sold the vineyard, did he receive one hundred denarii for his sale?"
"Yes, that was what he received." she replied.
The door below rang with the sound of knocking, and Peter sighed.
"Why is it," Peter asked. "That you both have agreed to tempt the Spirit of JEHOVAH?" He pointed down to the door. "Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are now at the door: they will carry you out."
In a macabre repetition of the dreadful events of the morning, Sapphira fell down before Peter's feet and rose no more. John ran to the door and found that, indeed, the grave-diggers had returned. Peter directed them to the body, then left with John in tow.
The Temple of Jerusalem. Built by Herod the Great, father of tetrarch Herod Antipas, it stood at the heart of the city of Jerusalem. Within, the sacred furniture of the Temple had been rebuilt from the destruction and capture by Babylon, save for one: a torn purple veil revealed to the priests and cohenim that it was gone from them.
Outside, the grandiose structure still inspired something of the awe that had gripped the Queen of Egypt when she saw Solomon's Temple - a thousand times greater than this one. Indeed, many Gentiles came to look upon the Temple, whether out of curiosity or because they felt in themselves a desire to believe in He-of-the-Unspeakable-Name. Yet, according to the Torah and the rules of cleanliness, there were barriers set about the Temple courtyard. The Temple itself was reserved for the cohenim, the priests, while the court closest to the Temple could be accessed by any faithful son of Israel. Outside of this court, women could gather, and beyond that was the court of the Gentiles, where everyone else could get as close to the faith of Israel as they were allowed.
Yet, to enter any of the courtyards, there was the great gate of the Temple: the Beautiful Gate. Hither Peter and John came, where they would enter in to the Temple for prayer.
"Good sirs, I beg you!" they heard a voice address them. Looking about, they saw no one, until John pointed to the side of the gate. "Spare a few coins for a lame beggar? I've been this way since birth, otherwise I would work if I could. Please, may HaShem bless you."
Peter knelt down to look the lame man in the eyes.
"Look at us, friend," he said. "We have neither gold nor silver, but we will give you what we do have." He held out his right hand to the lame man, who was looking eagerly at John and he. "In the name of the Messiah, Joshua of Nazareth, stand up and walk."
After a moment's hesitation, where the lame man was probably wondering if this was a cruel joke or not, seeing the honesty in Peter's eyes, took his hand with his hand. In one sudden movement, Peter pulled him up to his feet. His feet, they were holding steady! His legs were not crooked but straight. The formerly lame man was now laughing, and suddenly made three jumps for joy.
"Praise HaShem!" he cried out. "Holy is His Name for all the ages!"
He took off from the spot, as fast as his new-found living legs could take him, jumping when his joy was too great for walking, and shouting off praises to God with every other breath. Peter and John, meanwhile, stood in the center of a group of people who were looking at them with profound awe.
"What?" Peter asked, a smile half on his face. "Do you think it was by some power of our own that yonder man was healed? No, people of Israel, the power of JEHOVAH works through us, through faith in the name of Joshua." Many gasped at the hearing of the name of the LORD.
"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has glorified His Son Joshua, the same who was condemned in this very building," John said. "By the very elders of Israel, the Holy One was denied and a murderer was preferred over Him. Yea, and delivered Him up to the Gentiles who killed Him, yet God has raised Him from the dead: behold, we are witnesses of this."
"Verily, people of Israel," Peter continued. "I perceive that what you did to Him was out of ignorance, even so, it has been fulfilled through Him, what the prophets of old spoke, concerning His suffering. For as far back as Samuel the Prophet and those who came after him, they have prophesied of the coming prophet that Moses promised your fathers. Indeed, it has all been about these things. Repent and be baptized, that your sins may be blotted out for the coming of the LORD!"
The next morning, Peter and John were being ushered into the presence of the Pharisees. They had spent the night in the dungeon of the Sanhedrin for their preaching, and now they were to be presented to the judges, just as Joshua had fore-warned them would happen.
"Don't be afraid," John said to Peter, as they were being led out of their holding cells. "He told us what to do in this situation."
"Oh?" Peter asked. "And what was that?"
"Don't worry," John replied simply.
"'Don't worry?'" Peter replied with surprise.
"Right," John nodded. "He'll tell us what to say, we don't need to worry."
They were brought out now before the Sanhedrin, in the very same place where Joshua had been tried. Even those assembled - Annas, Caiaphas, Alexander, Gamaliel, John and Simeon - had been present at Joshua's trial. Fear gripped at their hearts as they were brought forth before these people, many of whom had personal grudges against Joshua for the sin He had rebuked that had been in them.
"Galileans," Caiaphas stated, looking upon them with a condescending glare of one who thinks himself speaking to an ignorant simpleton. "By what power, and in whose name, did you heal this lame man?" He gestured to the man who sat at the Beautiful Gate, who stood now to one side of the Pharisees.
At length, Peter found the words to speak, though not from himself.
"Elders of the Sanhedrin," he said. "If we are to be judged this day, because we have wrought good, let it be known that it was through the power of the Messiah, Joshua of Nazareth, who was killed by this council and raised from the dead by HaShem, that this man was made whole. For He is become the stone that was rejected by the builders, even that which is made the corner-stone. For there is salvation in no other name save for His."
The Sanhedrin murmured among themselves, then called for a recess. Peter and John remained in the council chamber under guard. The minutes seemed like hours as they waited, wondering if they were to die for the testimony of Joshua the Messiah so soon?
Not but ten minutes later, the Pharisees returned, their faces resolute as they assembled themselves in their seat of judgment.
"Men of Galilee," Caiaphas began. "It is true that a great miracle has been done this day. However, the name by which you claim your miracle was accomplished is anathema! Therefore it is the judgment of this council that you be released immediately. Howbeit we solemnly warn you to never preach or heal in the accursed name of Joshua of Nazareth!"
"Should we obey the command of HaShem or yours?" John asked. "Judge for yourselves which is better."
"We speak only of what we have seen and heard." Peter added. "We cannot help ourselves."
A murmur echoed among the Pharisees, after which they released the two, warning them once again to never speak of Joshua again.
(AN: Well, that's about that. More updates to follow shortly)