"I have heard him say that the malefactor, Jesus of Nazareth, who of late died the accursed death, after having been duly and righteously convicted of his crimes before this most sacred Council--I have heard him declare, that this man was Jehovah made manifest in the flesh. And that therefore his precepts and commands are more binding than the precepts of Moses, who was a sinful man like unto ourselves."
"Hast thou heard him say aught concerning the temple?"
"I have heard him say that the Nazarene shall shortly return to destroy this place, so that not one stone shall remain upon another, and that all things which Moses commanded shall be done away. The Gentiles moreover and them that are alien shall see these things and rejoice, for that this Jesus shall hereafter come in the clouds of heaven and gather his elect from the uttermost parts of the earth. The Nazarenes have the intent moreover to possess the earth, and to overthrow all powers and governments and all gods that have ever ruled among men, to the end that they may establish the man Jesus upon the throne of power."
"Didst thou hear the man declare these things?"
"I did, most sacred High Priest."
"Enough!--Iddo Ben Obed, thou mayest stand forth. Dost thou know this man?"
"I do, my lord."
Stephen looked up at the sound of this voice, and a keen spasm of pain swept across his face.
"Look at him!" whispered Issachar to his neighbor. "He evidently fears this witness more than the other--though his testimony was sufficiently damning."
"And what hast thou to say concerning him?" continued the monotonous voice of the High Priest.