Chapter 1

THE COMMUNITY IN PHILIPPI

   The first streaks of light were beginning to break through the gray dawn at Philippi. Most of the houses were still darkened on this first day of the week, but in the upper room of one could be seen a glow of light. This was the gathering place of the Community, the body of saints who were followers of the Nazarene. More than an hour before, the clay lamps had been lighted and placed upon the lampstands and the members, hurrying through the darkened streets, converged upon the place, to greet each other with the kiss of love. Some carried hampers of food for the feast of love, but others-the poor and the slaves-came with empty hands. The long table in the center of the room was surrounded by members of the Community. At its head sat the bishops, as supervisors and shepherds, with the president for the day sitting in the center.

   A solemn stillness prevailed until the president, arising, began the hymn of praise. The impressive cadence of the chant filled the room and stirred the hearts of the saints. The hymn was antiphonal, the president chanting the leading lines and the members of the body chanting the responses.

     In the beginning was the Word.
     And the Word was with God.
     So the Word was divine.
     He was in the beginning with God.
     By Him everything had being.
     And without Him nothing had being.
     What had being in Him was Life.
     And Life was the Light of men.
     And the Light shines in the Darkness.
      And the Darkness could not suppress it.

   The president announced the reading of the sacred writings, and asked that some brother volunteer to read from the Torah, as given to the ancients through Moses. Following this reading, another arose to read a portion of the prophets. Once more, the president arose, to inform the members of the Community of a notable event.

   He said, "You will remember that after our beloved brother Paul, accompanied by Lucas, Silvanus and Timotheus, came to Philippi and was so ill-treated here, he went from thence to Thessalonica, and bore the News to them with such results that a Community was planted in that city. You will recall, too, that the annals of our Community reveal that those who were then enrolled among us, were sent more than once to relieve the great need of our brother there. Later, whilst our brother was at Corinth, he wrote once and again to the saints in Thessalonica, some ten years ago. Certain of our number at Philippi, having learned of these epistles, journeyed to Thessalonica, and there read the words of our brother. It was our desire that copies be made so that the memoirs of our brother might be shared with the saints here and at other places. It is but recently that one of our brothers, having secured parchment, journeyed again to Thessalonica, and assisted by scribes in the Community there, made a copy, which now lies before me. It will remain here for our reading and admonition. One of my fellow-bishops will read extracts from it in your hearing."

   The aged saint arose, and read these words: "You yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you was by no means ineffective. Though I had previously suffered and been ill-treated, as you are aware, in Philippi, I made bold in God with a great effort to give you God's News. My appeal to you was without imposture or impure motives, neither did I use guile. I spoke as one approved of God as worthy to be entrusted with the News, not as one who seeks to please men, but God who tries the heart. For I was never in speech a flatterer, as you know, nor one with covetous designs, God is my witness, nor one who seeks human commendation, neither from you nor anyone else, although entitled to be of consequence as an envoy of Christ. Rather was I very tender with you, as if I were a foster-mother nursing her own children. Thus yearning over you, I was delighted to impart to you not only God's News, but my very life, so dear had you become to me.

   "Only call to mind, brothers, my toil and drudgery. Night and day I laboured so as not to be a burden to you in any way while proclaiming God's News. You are witnesses, and God also, how correctly, honourably and blamelessly, I acted towards you believers, just as you know how I exhorted, encouraged and charged every single one of you, as a father his own children, to behave worthy of God who has invited you to share his sovereignty and state."

   With the close of the reading, the president again arose and spoke. "You are aware, brothers, how often during the past several years we have sought to have word from our brother Paul, and how our every attempt to locate him and to communicate with him has been fraught with disappointment. Now we have received word from Thessalonica as to his present state, and after the royal feast in memory of the death of the Christ, we shall have the report conveyed to us by our brother who bore the copy of the epistle from Thessalonica."

   The president then spoke at length of the sacrifice of the Son of God, and of its meaning to the Community. He exhorted all to live in fidelity to the solemn pledge made to the Christ. Then, taking the loaf in his hands, he summoned the members to rise. Looking toward heaven, he solemnly gave thanks in these words:

   "We give Thee thanks, our Father, for the life and knowledge which Thou didst make known to us through Jesus, Thy Child. To Thee be glory for ever. As this broken bread was scattered upon the mountains, but was brought together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom, for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever."

   At the conclusion of the expression of thanksgiving, the entire Community voiced the Amen. The servants of the Community then distributed the bread to the members. Afterwards, all stood again and the president, taking the cup of blessing in his hand, again gave thanks in these words:

   "We give thanks to Thee, our Father, for the Holy Vine of David, Thy child, which Thou didst make known to us through Jesus, Thy Child; to Thee be glory for ever."

   Again the Community voiced the Amen. Then all drank of the fruit of the vine.

   When the time came for the report concerning Paul, there was an intensity of feeling which manifested itself in the eager faces of the members. It was plain that these humble souls loved the one who first brought them the News. The brother arose and began to speak.

   "Whilst I was in Thessalonica, brothers, I received confirmation of the rumors which have come to us. Our brother Paul, who left here several years ago, accompanied by the brothers whom we had selected to travel with him, arrived in Jerusalem with the bounty which the Communities of the Gentiles gathered for the relief of the saints in Judea. He was told by the elders there of the feelings of certain ones among the believers, who had been falsely informed that he was instructing the Jewish brothers among us not to circumcise their children. To allay the fears of the brothers in Jerusalem, upon advice of the elders, Paul entered the temple with four brothers who had taken a vow, expecting to bear the charges of their purification, and thus demonst[r]ate that he lived in obedience to the law.<

   "Unfortunately, near the close of the seven days of purification, the Jews from Asia aroused the crowd and assaulted him. They accused him of defiling their holy place by taking uncircumcised Greeks into it. This accusation was groundless. They had seen our brother on the streets with Trophimus, who had been selected by the Community at Ephesus, to bear their share of the bounty to the distressed saints.The mob assumed that Paul had taken Trophimus into the temple. In a maddened frenzy they sought to kill our brother, but he was finally rescued by the tribune of the cohort, Claudius Lysias, who was forced to send him forth to Caesarea under protection of armed guard.

   "In Caesarea, seat of the Empire in Palestine, our brother was on trial before the procurator, Claudius Felix, who left him in prison for two years. You have learned by proclamation last year of the recall of Felix for violence and extortion, and you know that his life was spared only because of the intercession of his brother Pallas, the favorite of the Emperor. He was succeeded as procurator by Porcius Festus, and before him our brother, as a Roman citizen, made appeal unto Caesar. He was then committed to the care of a centurion for the long journey to Rome, and was accompanied by Lucas, the good physician, who resided among us and taught us the Way, and also by Aristarchus, whose home is at Thessalonica, and who is so well known among us in this region.

   "It is as the result of a communication of this brother to the Community at Thessalonica I have learned that, after many perils, including a serious shipwreck, our brother Paul finally arrived at Rome. He was delivered by the centurion into the custody of Burrus, the Pretorian Prefect, and is now in the care of the household troops of the Emperor, although permitted to dwell in a rented house in the vicinity of Palatine Hill. He is under constant guard and in bonds. It is not certain when the deputation from Palestine will arrive to prosecute him before the Emperor. During this interval he is in dire straits, for the Empire makes no provision for the sustenance of such prisoners. This much I learned from the word conveyed in the message of Aristarchus."

   At the close of this account, many of the saints were weeping. One spoke aloud the sentiment of his heart, "How can he endure so much suffering?" It was apparent that Paul was loved by all. The president arose and exhorted the brothers to pray for this one who had endured so much to bring the News to Philippi. One after another, the members voiced their petitions to God in behalf of His suffering servant. Some of the prayers were offered in voices which broke under the emotional strain. Occasionally, one halted his prayer to weep unrestrainedly. When the last prayer was offered, and silence reigned except as punctuated by a sob, the president once more spoke to the little group.

   "It was our brother who taught us that the blessed Lord Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.' You are aware how often we have been concerned about the welfare of this faithful laborer, and of how we would have sent to help him in his needs, but lacked the opportunity. The time is now here when we can confirm our love unto him. Let as many as are prepared give this day to the deacons, and those who cannot do so today, let them make known their intention to aid, and the deacons can then visit you and receive your gifts, that the bounty may be collected without delay. And let us not forget that other things besides money will be required. There will be need of clothing, parchment, reeds, and other things. Let us respond nobly to these needs."

   The president continued, "One from among us must offer to make this long and hazardous journey, and deliver unto our brother those things which he requires. Such a journey will be beset with danger now because of the ravages of the plague. You are familiar with the fact, brothers, that only recently the decree has gone forth to curtail all unnecessary travel, because of the fevers which have taken the lives of so many, and even desolated some towns and villages. Yet, we believe that He who notes the fall of a sparrow will not be unforgetful of such an act of love and deed of mercy. The Community will send up fervent prayers and will commend unto God the one who undertakes the mission."

   This speech was hardly finished when Epaphroditus arose from his seat. He said, "You are aware, brothers, that I owe my soul to him who is now in bonds. I am ready to spend and be spent, in his behalf. How could I better serve our Lord than by attendance upon His faithful servant? We have labored together when he was among us. I long to see him again and look upon his face. I will convey your grace unto him and return to you any message that he desires to send. Perhaps I may even bring to you an epistle such as the ones he wrote to the Community at Thessalonica, and future generations reading it will know of our fervent love for him, and of his love toward us in the Lord Jesus."

   The suggestion met with the approval of the entire company, for Epaphroditus was held in reputation for his work's sake. Accordingly, it was agreed that the servants of the Community gather up the bounty, and those who could do so would meet upon the evening of the fourth day for prayer, and on the morning of the fifth day Epaphroditus would set forth. Certain of the brethren agreed to travel with him along Via Egnatia as far as Thessalonica from whence, after commending him unto the grace of God, they would return to Philippi.

   It was early in the morning of the date of departure, that the little band of brethren turned their faces toward Rome, along the paved road which stretched from the Hellespont to the Milliarium Aureum, the "Golden Milestone," which stood below the palace of the Emperor upon the Palatine.

   This was one of the outstanding roads of the Empire, marked with milestones along the way, and with stations at proper intervals where travelers could spend the night. It was traversed regularly by couriers, members of the military staff, and traders. Amphipolis was the first stop on this highway after leaving Philippi, and when the travelers reached it they had covered thirty-three miles, a part of which was over rough terrain, before they reached the plain where the Strymon River formed a large lake. Amphipolis, which means "between the waters," was named from the fact that the river encircled it.

   After a night in this spot, the men pressed on the following day toward Apollonia, passing enroute the tomb of Euripides, the great poet and dramatist, who at the age of seventy-two produced his tragedy of Orestes at Athens. Another night of respite from the fatigue of the journey, and on the morning of the third day they began the remaining lap of the trip to Thessalonica, where Paul and Silas had planted a community of believers after they left Philippi years before. Here they found refreshment and rest for both body and spirit in the company of the saints, and here Epaphroditus took up the remainder of the long trek to Rome without the company of brethren.

   One could wish that he had before him a diary of such a journey, but in its absence it can only be conjectured that the brave saint carried on across the full width of Macedonia until at last, after many days, he reached Dyrrhachium on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. At what juncture of the arduous trip he first felt the severe symptoms of illness we do not know, but in spite of the danger attendant upon the sickness he carried on, risking his life to supply the things so essential to the life of Paul.

   Embarking on the ferry which plied back and forth across the choppy and tempestuous channel betwe[e]n Italy and Macedonia, he landed at Brundusium and traveled north to the junction of Via Egnatia and Via Appia, and from thence, along the Appian Way past the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to the very gates of the city of the Caesars. Here the traveler became a part of the jumbled traffic flowing in and out of the great metropolis sprawled upon the seven hills. The swaying chariots of the nobles and patricians, the prancing horses of the cavalry, were almost engulfed in the seething mass of pedestrians surging in both directions. Farmers bringing in produce, tradesmen with their wares in packs, soldiers transferring from one barracks or guard post to another, artisans, laborers, slaves, and foreign sightseers-these formed a teeming, pushing, shoving crowd, all intent on getting through to another destination, while adding to the confusion and turmoil about them.

   Via Appia entered the city through the Porta Capena, the great arch which served to support the aqueduct above it, and Epaphroditus, passing through it, would find himself on a straight course leading toward the Circus Maximus, but the street veered to the right before arriving at this huge place of civic entertainment and skirted the Palatine Hill to lead down a gentle slope to the beautiful center of the imperial city, the Forum. Here would be found an imposing contrast with the dark, narrow streets, the sprawling hovels and the dirty shops of the remainder of the city, for successive rulers had vied with their predecessors in erecting magnificent structures.

   The humble servant of the Community at Philippi, ravaged with fever and faint from illness, would be thankful unto God that his life had been thus extended, for he now stood within a few blocks of his destination. Before him lay the Capitoline Hill, its entire surface covered with the imposing palace of the Caesars. Enquiring for the praetorium where the household troops were stationed for constant protection of the emperor, he would be directed to the rear of the palace and to the guard house. Here he would identify himself to the Roman sentry and secure the pass entitling him to visit the prisoner.

   What a scene it must have been, when in the apartment of the faithful envoy to the Gentiles, the messenger from the Community of Philippi presented himself. How the humble prisoner of God, chained to his Roman guard, must have held up his shackled hands and reached yearningly toward this brother. And with what unrestrained joy Epaphroditus must have rushed into the arms of this beloved one, while the two of them wept copiously from sheer gladness and relief. We leave them together now, during the interval required to portray the background of that community of saints, which formed their bond of mutual interest. We shall return and visit them again when we have finished our other task.

CONTENTS

Chapter 2: The Colony of Rome

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