(AN: One of the reasons for going back and fixing up Joshua is for continuity's sake. In orthodox Judaism, which the people of Israel kept in the 1st century, the name of God is not spoken. The word HaShem, meaning "the name", is used in some cases. This is prevalent in this story, and I feel like going back to Joshua and changing that [I had them use the nonsense word godeshem, akin to the actual nonsense word AdoShem, which is also used as a euphemism for the name of God]. Should I go back and fix that, or is Joshua good as it is?)
(Here we get to see a cameo from a believer introduced in Joshua. Can you guess who it might be?)
Give It Time
c. 32 AD
It is said that after doing something repeatedly for a large amount of time, the effect is supreme and utter annoyance. Such was the case for the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem. This would be the second time that followers of the Cult of the Way would be brought before their "esteemed" council, but it would not be the second time they were presented with that problem.
About the time after Shavuot last year, the followers of The Way began to preach in the Temple and in the lesser synagogues throughout the city and in the surrounding towns. The Sanhedrin sent their guards to put them into the prisons, hoping that a few nights in chains would bind their loose tongues. But the very next morning saw those same people back in the court of the Temple, preaching about Joshua the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven.
They made inquiries, and found that the dungeon was still sealed, the guards still at their posts: it was exactly as it had been left the previous night, save that the prisoners were not in their cells.
And so it was that Peter and John were once more brought into the presence of the High Priests.
"Simeon Bar-Jonah," Caiaphas said, with thinly veiled contempt. "Alias, Keiphah. John Bar-Zebedee: were you two not explicitly abjured never to preach the word of that blasphemer in the streets of Jerusalem again?"
"Yes, sir." John nodded.
"Yet you seem determined," Annas added. "To fill Jerusalem with your common, unholy teachings and therefore bring the blood of this blasphemer down upon our heads!"
"Is it better, my lords," Peter asked. "To obey the command of HaShem or the command of men?"
The grumbling of the council made it known to Peter and John that the opposition could not refute what they had said.
"Verily," Peter repeated. "The power of HaShem brought back from Sheol He whom you crucified. Indeed, HaShem Himself exalted Him to His own right hand, that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive her of her sins. We are merely witnesses, as is the Ruach HaKodesh, which is given freely to all those who obey HaShem."
This brought even more grumbling from the council, even shouts and threats hurled down at Peter and John. At length, Simeon rose from his seat and pointed down at them with fury in his eyes.
"How dare you!" he roared. "These men claim that we do not obey HaShem!"
"Stupid fishermen are more faithful to HaShem than we," added Alexander. "The cohen, the Pharisees, the appointed shepherds of Israel? Stone them!"
"My brothers, wait!" Gamaliel, one of the Pharisees, stood up, with hands spread apart, before the council. "Let us think for a moment before we act. I'm sure you all remember the Bastard, whom many believed to be the Messiah: where is he now? And, those older than I will remember, thirty-three years ago, Judah of Galilee lead the zealots in opposition against Rome. If memory serves, he was killed and his followers deserted his cause. And what about that other Judah, who led four hundred men out into the desert: they all died and his cause came to nothing!"
"Where is this leading, brother Gamaliel?" Caiaphas asked with annoyance. "Get to the point!"
"Supposing these men are servants of HaShem," Gamaliel said, indicating to Peter and John. The Sanhedrin began to shout and ridicule the statement as preposterous, yet Gamaliel held his hands up once again and Caiaphas called order, giving Gamaliel the floor again.
"As I said," Gamaliel continued. "If these men are not of HaShem, we need not worry, for their cause will come to naught. But supposing that they are, do we really want to fight against the will of HaShem?"
Once more, the disorder of the proceedings came out clear as before. And once again, Annas and Caiaphas had to restore order.
"Brother Gamaliel speaks wisdom," Annas said. "These men can go."
A knock sounded at the door.
"Rhoda," Miriam said to the servant-girl. "Go see who that is."
"Yes, mistress," the young girl replied, taking off down the stairs and found Peter and John, leaning against the side of the house.
"Come in, come in," she said to them. "The others are upstairs already." They had not taken but a few steps into the house when suddenly John collapsed onto the floor. Poor Rhoda called for help, and from the Upper Room came Stephen and John Mark, along with James and Andrew. James and Stephen approached John and tried to move him, but he groaned in pain.
"What's wrong with him?" James asked Peter.
"We're sore, both of us," Peter said grimly. As carefully as he could, he removed his robe from off his shoulders and let them see his back. It bore the red welts of the reed and the gashes of the cat-o-nine-tails.
"By all that is holy!" Andrew exclaimed, looking at the painful marks on his brother's back.
"No need, Andrew," Peter returned. "I feel..." He paused, thinking for a moment on how he indeed felt inside.
"Well?" James asked. "How do you feel?"
"Humble," Peter said. "That I should be considered worthy enough to suffer for His name."
Moments later, Rhoda came back down from the Upper Room with Lucas behind her. He ushered Peter into the room and joined James and Stephen as they brought John up with him. In the Upper Room, they saw that it was packed once again with everyone - or at least as many as could be crammed into this place. Peter and John were seated with the Twelve while Lucas attended to their wounds.
"I don't think this is the good time for a meeting," Nicanor, one of the believers who was a son of Israel living in Greece, said.
"No," Peter assured him. "You are all here. Say what you will."
"Well," Procorus, another Jew from Greece, began. "You know how we use the money we receive through gifts to the poor and widows. Our widows from our cities get over-looked while the rest of the widows of Jerusalem and Galilee are tended to."
"What would you-ow! What would you have us do?" Peter asked.
"Let our widows be fed and given a bit of coin to sustain them!" Nicanor stated.
"It will mean," John stated. "That our ministry will be neglected."
"Should we neglect our widows then?" Procorus asked sarcastically.
"No, he's right," Peter said. "We cannot do both, and yet we...ow! And yet we must." Gingerly, he rose to his feet and addressed those about him. "We need men of renown, blessed with the Ruach HaKodesh, who will minister to our needs while we preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. As you well know, your lot will be the same as ours. So do not choose so lightly, for I doubt you will be spared the same treatment as ow! As we have received for your charity."
Without hesitation, Stephen stood up from those gathered here. "I will do it."
"And I!" Procorus said.
"I as well." a short, bearded man named Timon added.
"Anything for the LORD." a fourth named Parmenas resounded.
"I'm with you." Nicanor said.
"Aye!" another man named Philip stated.
"Amen." one of Lucas' group from Antioch, a man named Nicholas, said.
Peter gestured to them that they should come forward. So they did, one by one, with Stephen stepping up to the very front. Though he was not one of the Twelve, he felt that he had a duty to Joshua to fulfill. Perhaps this was it, to minister to the poor, orphans and widows. Not what we would call a great task, but he remembered the words of Joshua:
The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others.
At last, Peter held out his hands, weary though his back was with the whip of the soldiers of the Temple, and placed his hands upon Stephen's shoulders.
"Receive the Ruach HaKodesh," Peter whispered, and in his heart, prayed that God, the very One who sent Joshua to them, would be with these men as they were now made His servants.
(AN: I bet you can guess what is coming next)