While the scribe of the Præfect was searching the docket, Julius continued his verbal report,—
“The man is a Jew, but hath the rights of Roman citizenship. After being tried by Agrippa, he appealed unto Cæsar.”
“Ah, yes! I now call him to mind. He is the one who stirred up such a commotion among the Jews at Jerusalem and Cæsarea. He was charged with preaching a strange faith, and worshipping some unknown god. Was he also answerable for speaking against the authority of Cæsar?”
“Nay; his political loyalty was unquestioned! His only real offence was some violation of Judaism. There was a great clamor among the Jews for his punishment, [pg 484]and even death. Their national religion appears to be peculiarly bigoted and intolerant. I am minded that King Agrippa found no real fault in him. I heard that it was declared both by Festus and Agrippa that the man had done nothing worthy of death or even bonds, and that he might have been set free had he not appealed to Cæsar. Feeling the injustice of the accusations which came from his own countrymen, he nobly sought the highest tribunal.”
“He must be an uncommon prisoner, and I shall accord him special privileges!”
“I rejoice in that! Though a chained prisoner, he is the wisest and most marvellous man that I have ever known. He is gifted with more knowledge, even about sailing a ship, than the master with whom we took passage. Had his advice been followed, we should have been spared a shipwreck, and even then, but for his wisdom and wonderful encouragement, I am persuaded that all on board would have perished.”
“May the gods be merciful to him! Thine experience proves that a prisoner may sometimes be a philosopher,” said the Præfect thoughtfully; “but how unfortunate that a man of such superior wisdom should be a devotee of a strange and superstitious religion!”
“Yea! He pays homage to a countryman of his own—a Nazarene whose name was Jesus—whom he calls ‘the Christ.’ He teaches that this Christ was a God-man, and therefore a leader and ruler; but that his kingdom is in the souls of men, and that it hath no dishonor for the government of Cæsar.”
“Shade of Apollo! that is a strange kind of an em[pg 485]pire! Even our Roman gods have but feeble power to change the feelings and conduct of men. But it would seem that much learning hath made the man strange, and perchance a little beside himself!”
“So I thought at first sight, most excellent Præfect! but his life, virtue, and power are marvellous. He hath ability, through his God, to heal the sick and cast out foul spirits, and both at Melita and Puteoli he did many wonderful works. The inhabitants were unwilling to part with him.”