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The Roman Empire had been in decline for centuries. We often imagine the beautiful architecture and deep philosophical thinking as illustrating a wonderful Greek and Roman age. But these were only drops of water in a cultural desert.
Any society that loved Gladiators killing for entertainment; or watching humans eaten alive by lions in arenas; or had slaves as their sexual play things; and infanticide as a common practice; was no paradise. Romans were on the verge of despair, as the springtime breeze of Christianity, gave hope to hopeless.
The next day, after Pentecost, St. Peter entered the temple of Jerusalem and began to preach Jesus raised from the dead, and for all to convert.
He cured a crippled man who laid on the way into the temple. Everyone knew this man as the crippled beggar who laid for years at the entrance. So there was no trick here--- it was a real miracle. All were amazed.
But many probably thought when Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem, why he never cured this man? It was to call to attention that Jesus’ disciples were to carry on the Gospel with power. Miracles most often happen to confirm faith. And healing the man at the temple was not the only miracle worked.
Obviously the Sanhedrin--the leaders of Israel, heard about the 3000 converts the day before. They must of said to themselves:
"Oh no, here we go again !! " When they heard of the cured cripple. They thought they solved the problem of Jesus by killing him--now they had 12 !
They ordered Peter and the other Apostles to not preach Jesus crucified and raised from the dead.
St, Peter--the same Peter who denied even knowing Jesus during the crucifixion, defied the Sanhedrin and said: "We should obey God before man."(Acts 5:19)
He was now a rock of courage, when it came to his testifying of Jesus. A drastic contrast to his denial a few weeks ago, and the power of the Holy Spirit giving him courage, and wisdom. Peter and the other Apostles were scourged for their insolence. But they rejoiced for being able to suffer for the name of Jesus.
The infant Church grew rapidly. Numerous miracles happened to the point that people just wanted St. Peter's shadow to fall on them to be cured.(cf. Acts 5:15)
Even the Sanhedrin were affected, the famous rabbi Gamaliel, tradition says he converted to Christianity, and remained a member of the Sanhedrin to help secretly fellow-Christians . He was supposed to have been baptized by St. Peter and St. John, with his son, and with Nicodemus. His body was discovered in the 5th century and now rests in Pisa, in Italy. [cf. Recognitions of Clement, I, lxv, lxvi]
This could explain our great details of the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.
His conversion would not be surprising, since Gamaliel was the teacher of St. Paul before Paul’s conversion. He would have known how devout St. Paul was before his conversion and how brilliant a student of scripture he was-- combined with the miraculous happenings.
As the infant Church grew it expanded with Greek speaking Jews from the diaspora. The church started to grow, so deacons were ordained to serve all the needs and expand evangelization. One of these deacons was St. Stephen, soon to be the first Christian martyr.
Meanwhile, in Rome the drama of being emperor was weighing down on Emperor Tiberius. He thwarted a plot of the Praetorian guard to kill him-- his secret service, who was supposed to protect him. In addition he found out his daughter-in-law had poisoned his son Drusus. Totally disgusted with the evil that surrounded him, he retreated to the island of Capri, just off the coat of Italy, never to enter Rome again.
Christians had a relatively peaceful time to evangelize for about 7 years, while Tiberius remained Emperor. The same Emperor who reigned, when the Jews manipulated the Romans into killing Jesus Christ.
Even though the Emperor Tiberius was dealing with depression, he still held firm to the stoic virtues that made Roman a power. So when Pontius Pilate, in 37AD in his characteristic fits of exasperation, massacred a group of Samaritan pilgrims, Pilot was called back to Rome to stand trial. Tiberius still wanted the laws of Roman to be administered.
We never learn the fate of Pontius Pilate, because Tiberius suddenly died at this time--leaving a power vacuum, especially in Jerusalem. No one knew who would replace Pontius Pilate, and his temporary replacement was waiting to see what would happen, with the new emperor.
The Jewish Sanhedrin saw their opportunity. While Rome was looking for a replacement for Pilate, the Sanhedrin saw a chance to purge Christians, from the face of the earth.
St. Stephen was one of the first to face this persecution. He challenged the Sanhedrin in a long speech to such a degree, that they saw their opportunity to put these Christians in their place.(cf. Acts 7)
One rabbi who watched the stoning of St. Stephen was a man called Saul--later to be St. Paul.
Yes, St. Paul was a murder. He went on to kill other innocent Christians at this time when the Sanhedrin were no longer controlled by Roman law.
Maybe Judas would have been the Apostle of the Gentiles, if he were capable of seeking forgiveness. So God chose the second worst person, St. Paul. One who was involved in killing the first Christian and went on to kill others.
The Sanhedrin saw foreign converts-- the Greek Jews,-- were the greatest danger of this new Christian sect spreading.
So Jewish leaders used this opportunity of Rome law vacuum, and decided to send one of their most zealous men to Damascus in Syria, to deal with the Christians there. --Saul.
If you are Christian you must be familiar with one of the most famous conversions in history. Saul on the road to Damascus was struck down by a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. Acts 9)
"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" the vision said
Saul was told what to do. He must go to Damascus and seek Baptism.
Ananias, who lived on "Straight Street" in Damascus was the one to welcome Saul. He must have been a great man of virtue. To accept this man --who was a persecutor --- this took a lot of faith; he could have lost his life.
But so it turned out Saul, now Paul, started to preach Christianity in Damascus in the synagogues. All were amazed, BUT, when the Jews planned to kill him; he escaped to Arabia, where he prayed and meditated to prepare for his mission, for about 3 years.
continue to next chapter
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