(AN: Here is the next chapter, and the continuation of what we saw from the last bit as well.)
General Conference
Barnabas had just barely managed to escape the temple of Zeus without sustaining any major injury. Two other men, however, followed him out of the city gates, whither he was running. He turned to meet them and saw a young man, barely a teenager, and a man about his own age.
"Why are you come after me?" Barnabas asked.
"If you please, sir," the youth said. "My name is Timothy, and I'm here on behalf of my mother and I, because, well, we heard your words, and those of your friend, and we believe."
"And you?" Barnabas asked the other.
"My name is Silvanus," the other said. "I am a Greek living in Jerusalem, I was told that I would find the apostle Paul of Tarsus here."
"Alas," Barnabas said, holding his hands upon his head and looking about. "I don't know where he is. We were separated after the man at the gate was healed and the people of the city thought we were gods!"
"Ludicrous!" the young man Timothy said. "None of their priests can perform the..." When he saw the two older men looking upon him, as if he were an arrogant young man speaking out of turn, he lowered his gaze and was silent.
"What is that over yonder?" Silvanus asked, pointing at the group of people who threw something onto the ground and then walked away, hurling insults and wads of spit in that direction.
"Oh, LORD save us!" Barnabas exclaimed, then set off running toward the something they had thrown, with Timothy and Silvanus taking up the rear.
When they approached, they saw that it was not something but someone. The body of a bruised and bloodied traveler was lying face-down upon the earth. They feared the worst, especially when Barnabas turned the body over and revealed, to their horror, that the body was that of Paul.
"Is he...dead?" Timothy asked.
To their supreme surprise, they saw his eyes slowly move and a loud huff escaped his lips, more like a gasp for air.
"Paul, are you alright?" Barnabas asked.
"I think," Paul said. "I can tell all my bones now." He saw their faces were etched with concern. "Don't be afraid, didn't Jesus say that in the world we should have tribulations? I perceive that we must, through much tribulations, obtain the Kingdom of God." He held out his hand. "Help me up, will you?" To this, both Barnabas and the young man eagerly brought Paul up to his feet.
"Well, who are these gentlemen?" he asked.
"I'm Timothy," the young man said. "This is Silas."
"Silvanus!" the gentleman corrected.
"No one can remember that all the time!"
"Be quiet!"
"A pleasure to meet you," Paul said. "God bless you both. Now, if you will pardon me, I have to go back into the town."
"What?" Barnabas exclaimed. "Didn't you just see what happened? You were almost dead!"
"And those in this town," he said. "Who believed may yet die off without elders to lead them."
"My friend," Silvanus said to Paul. "I have come from Jerusalem to discuss an urgent matter of great importance. We cannot have you die before your voice is heard!"
"What is so important about my voice?" Paul asked.
"Word is reaching Jerusalem about your...exploits out here," Silvanus said. "Day by day, the Greeks are coming to the Light of God's word. But there are those of the believers in Jerusalem who feel that these newcomers should be circumcized even as they were. There is much heated debate about this, and so the believers in Jerusalem are gathering together in meeting to decide once and for all how this should be ordained. Your voice would be helpful, since you are the one who has brought so many Greeks into the brotherhood of Christ."
"Once we've finished up the appointment of the elders," Paul said. "I will consider coming to Jerusalem, uh, what was your name again?"
"Silvanus," he replied.
"Silas is shorter," Paul said. "And it's Greek, which means I can speak with you easily in that tongue. Shall I call you Silas?"
Silvanus, now called Silas, sighed. "If you wish it."
The rest of their journey was rather uneventful. Paul visited the towns in secret and appointed elders over the believers, since he would not be there to instruct them personally. Once this was complete, they boarded the first ship to Caesarea and so came by way of Samaria back into the city of Jerusalem. They were received warmly among the brotherhood of believers in Jerusalem, the kristianos, as they were now being widely called. The house of Miriam, the upper room, was now the veritable head-quarters of the movement. Here the elders gathered, the last of the Twelve and those whom had been appointed as elders and servants of the believers.
After several days of prayers and ministry among the poor, the day came when all were gathered in the upper room. Since it was a formal synod, it was not held on the Sabbath, since that was a day of rest and good deeds, not the deciding of how they would minister. As Matthew, who remained yet in Jerusalem, was eager to point out, even Moses had the builders of the Tabernacle forbear their work on the Sabbath. After all were assembled, they offered one last prayer to God. Then Peter, being the head and spokesman of the kristianos, opened the floor.
"Brothers in Christ," he said, speaking to all here, Greek and Hebrew. "We are gathered here to discuss a very important matter. Some time ago, it was declared to us that we should spread the gospel of the Kingdom to the Greeks. As such, there has been a division among our brotherhood. Some would have us circumcise these new believers and have them follow the Torah, the sacred Law and writings of Moses, even as we who are Jews have done from birth until now. Let us first hear from our own, Levi-Matthew, who presents the argument for the circumcision."
Peter held out his hand toward Matthew, who rose up and addressed the crowd.
"Honorable friends and brothers in our LORD and Messiah, Joshua of Nazareth," he said, speaking in Hebrew. Many had the Ruach, the Spirit of Holiness, and understood what he said regardless. "Our LORD, HaShem, gave the covenant of circumcision to Abraham, as a token that he and his children were chosen of HaShem. 'Behold My covenant, which you and your descent shall keep: every male child among you shall be circumcised eight days after its birth. It shall serve as an everlasting covenant, and those who are uncircumcised must be cast out, for they have broken My covenant.' Therefore, since these Gentiles are entering into the covenant of HaShem, whose Son is the Name of Salvation, Joshua the Messiah, it would only serve that they would receive the circumcision as we do. If the Ruach HaKodesh accepts them, and, as Peter has said, it does, then they must show with their bodies that they are accepted of HaShem as well."
This brought much applause from those who were of this persuasion. Matthew then gave the floor to others who wished to extort and compound on what he had said. After several others had spoken, they surrendered the floor and Peter rose up and spoke again.
"I will now speak," Peter said, speaking in Greek. "In response to this argument. You know that some while ago, God told us that we were to spread the good news among the Gentiles. Verily, He who knows the hearts of men also allowed them to have the Spirit of Holiness even as we ourselves have been permitted, and made us equal to them in all things, purifying their hearts by faith. I recall a rebuke that Jesus Himself said to the Pharisees of Jerusalem: 'They bind heavy burdens on the shoulders of men, but will not even lift a finger to move them.' I fear that we may tempt God by doing as they did in this matter! For, truly, we believe that through the grace of Jesus the Christ we shall be saved, even as they do!"
Silence fell upon those assembled as they pondered his words.
"Now, if it may be permitted," Peter said. "Let us hear from our brothers Paul and Barnabas, who have been abroad, spreading the gospel of Jesus the Christ to the Greeks."
So these two were brought forward, and they spoke to them concerning what had happened in all of their travels, how they had met people, good Greek people, who were given the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke in tongues just as they themselves had. Once they had finished speaking, James, Joshua's brother, called Justus for his stern defense of righteousness, stood up and spoke to the people gathered here.
"Brothers in Christ," he said. "You have heard from Peter how, years ago, God called out from among the Gentiles those people worthy of His name. Hear now the words of Amos the prophet: 'Thus sayeth the LORD, the Knower and Doer of all things: in that day, I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, I shall shore up the breaches, raise up his ruins and rebuild it as it was in the days of old. That the remnant of Edom might seek after the LORD, and the heathen also, who are called by My name.'
"Therefore, I move that we do not use the Law as a barrier for those Gentiles who believe. Surely, the Torah is preached in every synagogue, as it has been since the time of Moses."
"But they must at least do something!" Matthew reasoned.
"Yes, they should," James said. "They must refrain from acts of fornication, from eating food offered to any god save the One True God, from drinking blood or from eating the flesh of a strangled animal."
"All in favor of this motion," Peter said. "Say so!"
"Amen!" they all said with one voice.
"LORD," he prayed. "You who know the hearts of men, give us your blessing upon this our decision."
"Amen!" they repeated.
"Now," Peter said. "Let us have a declaration sent to all the sons of Israel who call upon the name of Jesus, that they do not forbid any Greek from fellowship, but that they observe these four simple rules. We must also have men sent out to deliver this."
"I will go," Paul said, standing up.
"And I!" Barnabas added.
"We need two more!" Peter said. At last two others stood forth: one was Judah Barsabas, who had been considered of old for the position of Judah the Traitor, and Silvanus. As the meeting was afterwards adjourned, Silvanus made his way toward Paul and smiled.
"Looks like our paths are joined together again, my friend." he said.
(AN: Lol, Silas, you have no idea!)
(As you can see, liberal use of Greek ahoy. That's going to become the mainstay in the chapters that follow, so if, like me, you had already gotten used to Joshua, better get back into the Hellenized version [lol].)