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IN WHICH THE BANNER OF THE LORD'S
NEW KINGDOM UNFURLS OVER MANY HEARTS
Barnabas and Saul in Antioch
ASTE, LORD! Flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb.
From Holy Land blest Barnabas is sent
To Antioch for Gentiles ambient
Who have received what from the Spirit came.
He joyful sends for Saul to join in same.
So, Saul to longest brother journeys long
From Tarsus, to which preacher did belong.
How gracious Barnabas did greet his guest!
And with embrace, they both consult and jest,
With prayer and jollity and innocence
Which Barnabas did bear with all reverence.
Although shrewd Saul had seen cruel spite and wrong,
The simple bliss of Barnabas erelong
Destroyed depressing thoughts and brought, renewed,
Th’hilarity of hope that Christ imbued.
Barnabas of Joy, Saul of Wisdom
So, Saul and Barnabas set out to teach.
Great Barnabas would draw the crowd, Saul preach.
O, Saul the stunning speaker taught such truth
And rapt’rous insight that the aged and youth
Alike would wonder how a man could speak
With blustering voice ’til sometimes, vessel weak,
He’d choke and tear up at the Words he’d breathe
And, overcome, o’ercame words to ensheathe
The overwhelming sword of Word in hearts
Of men who melt before these sacred darts.
A veil lifted; Saul made weak, beheld,
In mind the slightest nook of where God dwelled,
And this o’ercame him utter, or would so,
Were not the Spirit guard on earth below
Of he who, weak in strength, saw Holy glow.
This way our God sent truth to listening men
Of Antioch, new hea’enly citizens.
So, one whole year did joyful Barnabas
And stirring Saul preach on, so vigorous,
In Antioch, before the mighty Wind
Did lead them through more lands, undisciplined.
A Journey and a Return
Across the Roman world the Spirit led
And soon were many hungry Gentiles fed.
On their return to Antioch, a lad
Did join their gracious, glowing duo, glad
To be a part of godly mission force
And join with those who had his faith enforced.
Saul knew the dangers of their godly quest
And knew that Satan would the weak molest
If they should seek to shatter dark command;
So Saul would rather leave Mark in his land.
But, Barnabas was trusting all the while,
Persuading Saul that God fought Satan’s guile.
The joy and hope of faithful Barnabas
Brought Saul to grant that son, solicitous.
Again in Antioch the church did pray
And found that duo must again make Way
To bring the gospel to the kingdom large,
And ignorant of ancient King in charge.
Such joy they saw in brilliant Godly will,
They fast depart and wind their sails fill.
Oh, Lord, flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb.
Chapter 2
In Which Saul and Barnabus Stand Before the Proconsul
Saul and Barnabas Meet One Man and One Worm
ELEUCIA THEY LEAVE, to Cyprus go
To preach in Salamis, and help hearts grow.
Proconsul there requested them to come
And give report of whence such words were from.
Oh, Days — arrive! Fill up, and overflow!
For long have you usurpéd been to woe.
Go, Saul and Barnabas and eager Mark:
Unto the house of head of state embark.
At splendid gates, the stalwart guards let pass
Our happy harbingers of highest class.
But at the doors, they met a dark, gaunt face
With chilling glare which near froze Mark in place.
“You are not welcome, here. You do mistake.”
And to his lord, “These men do truth forsake.
And knowing nothing of the Holy Book,
They e’en admit of blood feast they partook.”
This antichrist did all “Bar-Jesus” call.
His rodent nose and stance were known to Saul,
Who, furious, had seen that harrowed face
At edges of his crowds and, whisp’ring, chase
The nearly won away from Godly Way,
And doom such men as could be led astray.
So, Saul, called Paul, ne’er heeded words of wraith,
And brushed aside that en’my of his Faith.
Proconsul Paulus warmly welcomed Paul
And brought our heroes to a lavish hall.
Bar-Jesus glanced his vicious, stony glare
And took his seat by Paulus, sinister.
How Each Saw Their Hosts
Now, Barnabas was joyful for the chance
To speak before two men of ignorance.
Now, Mark took eyes from trust in God, he sank
Regretting wish to walk to presence rank.
Then, Paul grew righteous fury in his core,
In seeing how the serpent’s minion tore
The seeds of truth that Holy Spirit gave
From Paulus’ ears by hissing counsel grave.
Rebuking the Worm
The Holy Ghost, the jealous God, enflamed
The heart of Paul and justly he proclaimed,
“You child of the devil, enemy
Of righteous fire, prince of devilry.
Learn now that those who seek more men to blind
No dimming change affect on God Divine.
You only blind yourself if you do turn
Against the God of Light and Fire that burn!”
A darkness only seen by villain blind
Descends on he who sought the truth to bind.
Though darkness was his wish completely and coarse,
Th’example of the powerful hea’enly force
Which blinds a man or saves him by a word,
Caused Paulus to believe all truth he heard.
So, blind and gross, the tongue of fallen worm
Was cast from gate with condemnation firm.
And breath of life did fill this Roman man
So that he sought to fan the flames at hand.
Thus, blest and blessing, Paulus walked the Way
Allowing Paul and comp’ny pleasant stay.
John Mark Takes Leave
From there, when Paul and Barnabas depart
For land of Perga, Mark did choose to part,
And take the way comfortably back home,
While missionaries farther blown could roam.
No agitation did Paul then express,
Though inward he recalled his carefulness
When young John Mark made first request to come
And Paul had sought to save such martyrdom.
There was no more to say regarding Mark:
Now, on to Pisidi’n Antioch embark.
Good Lord, flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To capital from knightly catacomb.
Chapter 3
Of the Dangers With Which They Met in Psidian Antioch
St. Paul and St. Barnabas Hear the Word in Psidian Antioch
UR FAITHFUL duo go to synagogue
To hear aloud the sacred Decalogue.
There, Paul did sit and savor word sublime
Concerning Son who came in fullest time.
When ample Barnabas and pensive Paul
Were seen to let the Scripture so enthrall,
The teachers and the priests did ask the two
For word of God to give them like virtue.
The Homily in the Synagogue
In gratitude to God, the beckoned bring
The substance of the hope for promised King:
“All ye who know that hope and history
Of Holy Words, and Hopeful Mystery:
That God who called us from archaic years,
And justly ruled by judges (but our peers)
And kings commanding, which we begged to rule,
Like Saul of my own tribe, who treated cruel
The one-day crownéd David, who did say
The Holy One should never see decay.
Through David’s line did spring Another’s Son.
One king did see decay, but not this One.
Anointed King of all, this Jesus Christ
Is from, is with, and is God sacrificed
And raised alive in resurrection first,
To beckon back the whole of men, self-curst.
This Christ, once crucified, did rise once more
That He might reign, and grace for us implore.
By Law we are not fitly justified,
But by the grace of living God who died.”
Glowing Response
The chosen men and women of the crowd
Were stunned by searing truth and, fast, allowed
Dear Barnabas and Paul another chance
To speak of Jesus Christ’s deliverance,
“Sirs, if you please, return and speak, again.”
The duo breathed their pleasure to remain.
The crowd beseeched they speak on Sabbath day,
And later tell their neighbors of the way
Which they have heard the two apostles preach
And, eagerly, invite to listen, each.
A Darker Reaction
When Sabbath sunlight flooded synagogue,
(With half Pisidi’n Antioch’s catalog),
The Jewish teachers of the Law grew proud
And sought to steal the message from the crowd.
They argued coldly with the preaching Paul
Such interloping ingrates prompt appall.
At last did suff’ring knight breathe, “Israelite!
The Lord declared, once, ‘I made you a light
For Gentile states, that you might brilliant bring
Salvation to the world, and light each thing.’
Now, Gentiles here rejoice in heaven’s Way,
But you’ve grow dark and cold for judgment day.”
Thus, many foreign folk were filled with lights
Though darkened souls distend some Israelites.
The dust that peppered brilliant beams of sun
Cast through the windows fell on garrison
Of fighting, foolish teachers of the Law
Who sought to force the salt and light’s withdraw.
Such feud and cruelty overcame the place,
That Paul and Barnabas left populace
With knowledge bright of Christ the Risen King,
And, shaking dust from shoes, left brutes nothing.
Chapter 4
In Which the Missionaries Meet the Same Opposition Elsewhere
Belief and Doubt
UR BRAZEN knights continued on their quest
And, in Iconium, were likewise blest.
Some Jews and many Gentiles hungry heard,
Believed at once, and claimed the risen Lord.
But synagogue was equal steeped in pride:
The Jewish leaders jealously espied
The miracles of God in willing hands
As Paul and Barnabas took Godly stand.
Spreading Falsehoods
And, like a plague, dissenters poisoned minds
By forcing those who sought God to be blind.
But blinding route was found ne’er would succeed
And wicked Jews, with Gentiles companied.
Thus cruelly congregate the serpent’s sons,
Whene’er they come against the holy ones.
So, cruelly plotted darkened minds below
Of vicious schemes of murder, wrath, and woe.
They dipped their dreams in blood through eventide
And crafted their unholy homicide.
When wind bore Paul this news of bloody thoughts,
The duo chose to sidestep such onslaughts.
Not fearing death of selves, but death of souls
In far-flung cities, Paul tells body whole
Of pressing need to move their ministry;
So breathed farewell the saintly company.
Chapter 5
Wherein We Learn How the Enemies of Christ Pursue His Pledged Ones
How Men Learned the Truth
O LYSTRA and to Derbe both set out
Igniting flames of life, destroying doubt,
And breathing unsafe wonders God ordained.
The mighty, vibrant thought their words contained
Could never tell complete the ways of God,
But Holy Ghost dealt inkling of His laud.
The banner of that gleaming Royalty
Met both with welcome and with enemy.
Their plotting foes were ever in pursuit
But never blazon could they quite refute.
The Spirit Cures
In Lystra, Paul before assembly spoke
To many men with spirits ill and broke,
And to one man with body broken, too,
A crippled youth who, now, his first joy knew.
He watched saint Paul the preacher wield the words
Of flame consuming soul which never burns.
Th’apostle saw in turn this joyous youth
Whom God inflamed with burning love for truth.
Paul’s sermon petered out: he grew intent
On healing this believer's body, bent.
He raised his voice beyond its normal pitch
And, never stopping sermon, made the switch
From past account to current miracle
For which the Spirit made him vehicle
To breath the gracious words,
“Stand on your feet!”
And faithful fellow found his strength complete,
To stand afoot, healed full in instant fast,
Who had ne’er stood in all his joyless past.
Confused Pagans
He stepped with trepidation, yet with trust.
But, Gentile minds to new thoughts slow adjust.
“Olympian gods have come to earth as men,
This ample one is Zeus, and this his friend
And mouthpiece, Mercury, who fiery speaks.
Now, dust the books of sacrifice antique
And search the tales of Zeus until you learn
What creatures we must gather up to burn.
Quick, send a man up to the priest to call
To tell him who has come!” Which paled Paul.
The crippled youth now stood in seething mass
Which sought, against his heart, their thanks to pass
To men who never healed nor wanted fame
They sought for healing God who they proclaim.
Paul glanced at Barnabas, whose humor fled,
And both were horrorstruck by thunderhead
Of worship blasphemous against their King,
That men should worship but His underlings.
Paul called for order from these fussing Greeks,
But they, distracted by their worship, weak,
Ne’er turned to hear e’en he they thought their god.
Like, Barnabas’ deep voice, too, failed to prod.
Unheard "Gods"
To sooner stop this chilling nightmare, cruel,
Calm Barnabas did tear his clothing wool.
Paul followed suit on his own suit until
The men’s cacophony capped, growing still.
“Why this? We are but men, thus be assured
And worship no false god. None but the Lord!
The God of Israel, her royal Head
Who healed that young cripple, by faith led.
This God, alone, has made the world, entire,
And brought you rain and earth and wind and fire.
What joys you have are from His hand, alone;
Past matter or Olympus, He's enthroned.”
Two Kinds of Priests React
The white-haired priest arrived just for this speech
And, bitter, knew it challenged what he preached.
But, ne’ertheless, by gifts his gods did live,
To feed upon what sacrifice men give.
It seemed not hunger drove them down to earth,
He feared they sought some wily means of mirth.
So, he desired to show his loyalty
Unto his ancient gods of trickery.
An ox was brought, and sacrificial stuff
And swords were drawn to slay, despite rebuff
From Barnabas and Paul and crippled youth
And their small company which took to Truth.
With many words they sought to set it right,
But none would listen to demands, despite
The firm belief they treasured all around
That these were Homer’s ancient gods on ground.
The blinded banner of this kingless clan,
Fast met a banner seeking King to ban:
The Jews and Gentiles coming in pursuit
Of Paul and Barnabas had found their route.
Such turmoil in a crowd of Paul’s was new,
But they, with lies, the pagan priest imbue
With new-found rage and certainty of fraud,
Until he cried out, “Neither man is god!
These two have told this lie across the land:
A single God late came to earth as man,
And taught like Bacchus, ‘Drink man's blood as wine,’
That men should ne’er see death that all must find.
But Bacchus He denied, and even Zeus,
And taught our deities were of no use.
As they have taught before, they now do teach,
Although, by claiming godhood, they o’erreach,
And double on themselves in too great lies:
That God is one and three, these two advise!
Deny my master, Zeus? You’ll see his strength
And Hades teach you more of him, at length!”
At this, the crowd lays sacrifice aside
And drags the better-settled Paul outside
The city, casting boulders copious.
The youth, disciples, and dear Barnabas
With haste pursue the savage, pagan crowd
But cannot find the man the rage enshrouds.
A Miracle
HEN past the pummeling men they push to Paul,
No stones are being cast. The Greeks withal
Withdraw as sated mob, their work complete.
When Barnabas beholds Paul at his feet,
He falls beside his friend to, hopeful, call:
“If you can hear, I listen: speak, dear Paul.”
For Barnabas hoped but for dying word
From his old friend, still just unsepulchered.
The group of converts, old and young and healed,
Made circle round their fallen Paul and kneeled.
Dear saintly Paul's new life had first begun,
When angry men had stoned another one:
What irony could find him here to fall?
Such matter should have killed our human Paul:
Both stones that fell on Stephen should not draw
A man to follow Stephen’s way with awe,
Nor should such stones that fell on Paul allow
His lips to breathe as they continue, now.
By grace, the eyes of Paul awake, anew,
And Barnabas ne’er questioned breath’s virtue.
The crippled youth extended strengthened hand
And lifted Paul, with all sound health, to stand.
Disciple Barnabas stood up, as well,
And, with gusto, praised God of Israel.
A deep and hearty tune they carried back
Through city gates, with joy that mad attack
Had cost no life, and God had spared them all,
Especially beloved, brilliant Paul,
To flood the lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb.
Chapter 6
In Which the Law is Brought into Question and Answered
Words and the Way in Antioch
O DERBE, Paul and Barnabas made way
When morning came, too perilous to stay.
The hostile cites where they had preached before
They visited t’encourage them with lore
Of miracles of life, and foes made blind,
And how the Pharisees could never find
A route to turn the faithful from the Way,
For in the hearts which trusted God, He’d stay.
This duo, glor’ous in reflected light,
With sun sojourned, and listened in the night
Until they came to Antioch, again,
And bore the mission’s news to eager friends.
When all this praise was lifted to their King,
They stayed some time among their fam’ly ring.
It was the joy of Antioch to host
Those knights the Lord had sent to bless days closed.
While Barnabas would joyful rouse a song
With Jew or Gentile who might join along.
His faithful friend, our Paul, though less jocose,
Would answer questions hearts and minds held close.
The Gentile's Query
When Paul had risen with the sun one morn,
He went and prayed, devotional, till torn
From prayer by penitent and pleading Greek
Whose honest heart for godly light did seek.
“Apology I grant, and please forgive,
That I should interrupt prayers vocative.
But I have wrestled through a weary night
And beg that for my grief you’ll give respite.”
Accustomed to the worship sent to God
By teaching others of His staff and rod,
Our loving Paul set brother’s mind at ease,
“What question will this grief of yours appease?
For answer ask, and I’ll tell all I know.”
The grieving Greek’s relief began to show.
“More teachers of Judea came to preach
Among our numbers, and we welcomed each.
They spoke of Christ, and of Him circumcised,
And, worried by our unlike state, chastised
Our church for disobeying Moses’ Law,
Since ne’er uncircumcised salvation saw.
And I have wrestled with their rough command,
For I thought Jesus saved us by His hand,
And we no benefactors are to self
But only Christ, who harrowed Hell’s dark shelf.
Does Christ flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb?”
Th’apostle first commends his friend’s first thought,
Confronts, then, those who circumcision taught.
The Question Goes to Jerusalem
In Antioch, they ne’er could reach accord.
Jerusalem would last debate afford.
When Paul and Barnabas saw Peter, John,
And James and all the others of so long
Ago, they greeted, and were welcomed warm.
With teachers of Judea, civil quorum
Of older day, they fellowship with food
And speak of quests of bright beatitude.
The heart of Paul could well have been quite low,
Had he not Barnabas, who banished woe,
With boisterous laugh and tales of latest trip
Who never feared a break in fellowship.
But, when the furthest star woke in the sky
And when the moon gazed down with ominous eye,
Then Paul let doubts into his mind ’gain slip,
And wondered if the Council chose to strip
The work of Christ upon the cross and throw
The weight returned to law they should forego.
Against the Circumcision
H, DAYS —Arrive! Fill up, and overflow!
For long have you usurpéd been to woe.
Again comes daylight to the sleeping world,
Again the fiery blazon high unfurled.
Within the house of Mark, sat company
And first spoke one believing Pharisee,
“These men have preached some truth to many Greeks,
But have neglected words which Moses speaks:
For all the saved are circumcised like he,
As Abraham was told that all must be.”
Nearby did Paul remark with quiet breath,
“And I suppose for girls there’s naught but death?”
Apostles with the elders all drew near
And probed the question both had asked sincere.
Then, after length, saint Peter rose to say,
“Our Savior King for us has walked that way.
Beneath the Law, we’ve labored centuries
But ne’er could we o’ercome depravities.
Yet, Christ fulfilled the Law, that once for all.
Now, just as we're redeeméd from our fall,
So have the Gentiles been. What yoke shall be
Bequeath on brothers: love or misery?
God, let them trust in faith and charity.”
Then Christian brother James, agreeing, breathed,
“The light and heavy yoke of love bequeathed
Our Christ to us. And thus, to Gentiles preach
Of grace for what we ne’er alone could reach.
But let not license come of liberty:
Let all live pure with perfect charity.
Those who are truly free are free from sin,
And ne’er desire its frosty touch, again.
But, to instruct on what is sin or no,
With each one come here shall a letter go.
These things they cannot love while loving Christ,
Though any human being be enticed:
Avoid unlawful sex, and idol meat,
And any creature strangled, yet complete.”
This lit again the eager joy of Paul.
He prayed a thankful psalm to God of all,
That Laws of older days would not o'errun
The will of Father, Spirit, and of Son.
The Verdict Brought to Antioch
With Barsabbas and Silas, they returned
To Antioch, with news of all they’d learned.
The church bore turmoil: restless, fearful, dire,
Yet quick returned with news of living fire.
Both Silas and Barsabbas, prophets blest
Were welcomed and encouraged on their quest.
Then homeward turned toward Jerusalem,
With blessing to and fro the Diadem.
Chapter 7
Of Holy Disagreement
St. Paul Wonders if the Question Arose Elsewhere
HE YEAR crept on as Paul began to yearn
To know the state of states where grace had burned.
Did Christ flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To capital from knightly catacomb?
“My good friend Barnabas, how do the folk
Of Cyprus and Iconium bear yoke
Of ease and excellence, twixt liberty
And law, who ne’er did gleaming letter see?
These lies of circumcision maybe reach
Those we have traveléd and worked to teach.”
Barnabas' Response and a Break
And Barnabas grinned broad with bright delight,
“Our King draws us again to spread the light!
I thought the same, though not exact the like:
Suspecting ne’er that group again might strike.
But, as we both considered, let us go
Along the way where Holy Spirit blow.
Your warning of the heretics shall aid:
I’m grateful God in your mind prudence laid.
Once more, we’ll travel out to foreign lands
And bear the flag of scarred and sovereign hands.
And, look! Let’s bring John Mark, my cousin young!
It will encourage him to go among
The people God has blessed and claimed as His,
For Kingdom come, which was and always is.”
Here, Paul’s reply was strong,
“He fled the field
In Perga when he saw the devil wield
That small and snakelike Simon as a blade
To cut through hearts and spread his evil shade.
John Mark is young, and youth in self oft trusts,
And fears more easily than Christians must.
Let him remain, and grow in strength by prayer,
That someday he can fan the flames elsewhere.
Let us be practical for souls at stake,
Lest, yet again, should John from our way break.”
St. Barnabas Tries Again
Refusal ne’er did Barnabas expect,
Whose charity o’ercame Paul’s sharp aspect.
He ne’er spoke bitter, but still did Mark defend,
“Did you forget when we first met, my friend,
The practice practical had severed you
From meetings of the apostolic true.
I cannot understand this that you say:
Shall God not strengthen John Mark on the way?”
The memory of his own peers’ distrust
Did not prompt Paul’s conviction to adjust.
“John Mark did tremble fore the clearest vice:
What if by heresy he was enticed?
By question o’er full grace, faith might be torn
If doubts remain as clinch in helm unworn.
I want the best for Mark, and know you do:
And best for him would come if more he grew.”
Now Barnabas gave answer, “Godly Paul,
Our Lord is not by man’s mind bound at all.”
Parting Friends
HIS DIFFERENCE had been there all along:
But never had one thought the other wrong.
Through reason, God had given Paul one sword,
Through trust had Barnabas been armed by Lord.
And e’er before, their charity outshone
This variance, but now they, tempest-blown,
Were cast in two directions, now apart
By separate paths their King set them to chart.
“Before we hurt each other, breaking bond
Of friendship heaven-blest, let’s each respond
To Holy Spirit’s blaze within our heart
If paths should separate, let’s not depart
From comradeship God made between our souls
But, splitting in the Way, keep kinship whole.”
How They Went to God's Work
Preserving kind regard, they cut both feud
And group, and neither left that land in solitude.
To Cypress traveled Barnabas and Mark
While Paul and Silas prayerful both embark
For Syria and then Cilicia.
But first to Lystra where th’phenomena
Of healing, blasphemy, and stoning came
When Paul among those last showed Godly flame.
A youth of humble ways and eager eyes
Inquires for his health when Paul arrives.
He answered God’s own grace has made him whole.
Thus Paul met Timothy, his son of soul.
The youth was not too young to know the Way
And fervent sought to teach those gone astray.
Travelling with St. Timothy
So, Paul invited Timothy to come
And join the holy quest, adventuresome.
Young Timothy with youthful pluck agreed,
And followed Law, that Jews should not impede,
And left that land for Asia, Paul’s desire,
Though changing winds planned other way for fire.
Yes, Asia, and the east and lands far-flung
Would draw in breath once Roman belfries rung!
Chapter 8
The Spirit Leads St. Paul
Closing Doors
UT WEEKS of travel marked by failing routes
In time left Paul in midst of painful doubts.
Full faith in God his King he never lacked,
But faith he sometimes lost in paths he tracked.
A Visitation in the Night
As Paul lay down one night, he closed his eyes
And felt the Spirit instantly arise.
So, Paul alike arose, at least in mind,
For his surroundings now seemed left behind.
And all he saw was gleaming, forceful light
Which bears his eyes to eyes which like alight
Upon himself from Macedonian
Who ne’er before he’d seen as man sees man.
That man's sighed prayer left body sorely worn,
And from his eyes, Paul’s own could not be torn.
“Please, come and help us!” calls the weary man,
And staggers slow to Paul with westward hand.
“Come and help!” He cries and stands and calls.
But cannot lonely bring his hand to Paul’s.
Leaving Immediately
Paul snapped awake in sudden, joyful state
And quickly wakes his three associates
(For Luke, a man of Troas, joined their crew,
Which, broken sleep aside, he did not rue.
A doctor he, he loved the mighty Lord,
And how the world by cross came to accord,
And loved he how the heartbeat of the tale
Brought God's love to the lady and the frail,
To all the lonely, Gentiles, weak, and sick.
Though Luke was not, like Paul, of tongue so quick,
He slowly labored, letter-writing long.
He thought, someday, he'd chronicle the song
For those who love his God and seek the way,
And teach to man the way that man might pray.)
“The King sends us to Macedonia!”
Paul breathed, and told the strange phenomena,
Impatient, packing their possessions few.
“This very hour?” inquired fellow new.
To which Paul answered, “What prevents our quest
From starting even now? I’ve slept sans rest
The recent nights, and now shall sleep no more,
But rest in will of God on foreign shore.
The Lord floods lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb.”
Born swift by mighty wind across the sea,
At pleading land arrived our company.
In Phillipi, in place of holy prayer,
Saint Paul let thankful whispers fill the air.
His feet were planted firm in godly field
And fresh air filled the man whose heart would yield.
An Unwelcome Guest
UT, as the breath of beauty filled his chest
And as the faithful fire burned his breast,
E’en while the prayers passed from his lips to God,
Behind him came a wavering voice, and odd.
“These men are servants to the living Lord,
And preach the way salvation can afford.”
The words cut Paul beyond a certain cause;
The sun felt cool and pleasant breeze made pause.
He turned toward the voice’s origin
And saw a swarthy youngster, feminine,
Whose eyes were black as ink and sharp as thorn
Whose rigid body hung with clothing torn
Her chin was set as though ‘twere made of stone
She neither seemed united nor alone.
Oblivious to what had just occurred,
The other three met Paul and went, assured.
But, every step remained enshadowed by
That wraith unholy with the vac’ous eye.
She followed every move they made and spoke
In chilling voice the words that truth made broke.
At length, the days were rendered cruel and long,
By rhythmless, unnerving, ceaseless song.
Paul asked a native of the Gentile town,
“Who is this girl who shouts and stalks us ‘round?”
The man but cast a sideways, fleeting glance,
“A slave, possessed, who of the future rants
For master human and demonic, loath:
For cash, for captive, and for hell from both.”
Exorcism
The girl remained a short stone’s throw away
And Paul now recognized her cold array
Of glances, shouts, and chilly mutters cruel,
He turned to her and shouted, “By the rule
Of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get out!”
At royal name, the spirit heeds the shout
And darts away, to trouble her no more.
She gasps a breath and reaches for head sore.
The tears that tore within her many years
At last are free to flow as Paul she peers.
Apostle Paul approaches her and kneels
And looks through eyes into the soul He heals.
“It’s gone away, forever, hasn’t it?”
She begs a ‘yes’ with pleading eyebrows knit
And Paul replies, “Do not forget the name
That set you free, and He shall do the same
Whene’er you need His help, for you must lean
On Jesus Christ, the Son, the Nazarene.
Now, go unto you home, and rest and sleep
Take joy in freedom, being free to weep.”
A brilliant smile flashed across her face,
And, to comply, back to her home she raced.
An Ungrateful Response
But, such a change that girl had undergone,
Her master saw he’d lost his liaison
To future and to fortune, and he feared
Should all his wealth and income like be cleared.
He hunted down good Paul and Silas both
And brought them to the market, with crude oath
That they should ever on regret their way
Of sending freedom down where slave-girls lay.
The girl’s cruel master called the magistrates,
Commanding justice ‘gainst the reprobates.
And, gnashing teeth, he calls a curse on Paul
And Silas, screaming, “These men lawful call
The most unlawful, tearing down our core,
And stirring men to evil and uproar.”
The crowd who know this businessman attend
And, likewise, seek our peaceful pair to rend.
Officials thought the people ought to see
What mighty forces leaders had to be.
Imprisoned Once More
They make example of our daring two
And beat and bruise and jail without ado.
Behind the heavy lock, and through their scars,
They held them with no mercy, only bars.
That in-most, dank, and dreadful, lightless place
Where sun could not reveal its hopeful face
Was packed around the party, deadened stone
Left guards no doubt they’d ne’er escape, alone.
Paul’s feet and hands were bound in brutal chains
Which torture quite as much as they contain.
And Silas near was held in solemn pose
While stocks and chains his feet and hands enclose.
The jailor, grubby, meets their eyes with scorn
And then departs that dungeon, weird and worn.
Hymns in the Prison Cell
UT PRISON walls and stocks could ne’er subdue
The godly knights, who walked the way of few.
The coming day, now dark, would rise again,
Which merits praise, with or without their chain.
So, Silas earnest breathed the words he felt,
“How gracious God, to banish where snake dwelt!
The servant girl now breathes her breath most free,
Just as we are, likewise she’s blest to be.”
Agreement came from Paul, with query, too,
“Are hymns of Barnabas beknown to you?
There was one jolly tune he often raised
When ancient serpents from their dens were razed.”
Victorious voices filled the dim, dead halls
With songs from Barnabas and David’s calls.
While every waking captive, harking, heard,
They all grew still, engrossed in every word.
The jailer, at his distance, caught their catch
Which shook him more than swears of common batch.
He blocked the thoughts, while turning his ears away
But none can hold the heav’nly hound at bay.
Through hours short the voices made their way.
Attending outlaws, murderers and thieves
Give ears and hearts to songs the zephyr weaves.
But, then, when midnight came upon our earth,
The sweet song’s sound of highest heaven’s worth
Was overcome by highest heaven’s might
When earth began to quake and rend and fight.
Earthquake and Jail Break
The prison’s base and walls and heavy stone
Were weak against the might of heaven’s throne.
The iron chains and shackles, stocks and doors
All fell from arms and feet and left their moors.
And not a few freed hands uplift in praise
To follow moving songs to heaven raised.
The halls were filled with iron doors, swung out:
No rule of man held prisoners about.
The quake awaked the jailor, hearing chains
And squealing hinges, still with hymn’s refrains.
Into the hateful hallway dashed the bloke,
The sight of scores of open doors provoke
His anguished heart into the worst despair,
“The felons flew! The pris’ners’ answered prayer!
Their God is strong against myself, for them:
And now escape of all my wards condemns
To death my flesh, and worse, ignoble death!
For execution merc’less steals my breath.
Alas, I could that shame and pain avoid
If wisely I my sword’s last stroke employed.”
He drew his blade and held it to his heart
And swallowed slow the choice. He must depart.
Mercy to the Chief Sinner
But, as he closed his eyes and readied fist,
A breath of life breathes loud,
“Now, guard: Desist!
There is no cause for killing anyone,
For every prisoner remains in prison.”
For Paul had heard and hurried to the hall
And stopped the desperate man before swordfall.
The jailor dropped his sword, to clang the floor
And bent his eyes upon the corridor.
The jailor lit his lamp and saw our Paul,
Then, came to him, and knelt and begged withal:
“Your songs and hymns had lulled me into sleep,
I’ve heard and seen your God defend His sheep.
Now, I must know this Lord whom you both serve:
Who frees the jailed, and e’en the guard preserves.
Now, tell me, Paul and Silas, either say:
What way may I be saved: what must I pray?”
Then, Paul breathed out the words of light and life,
“Believe in Christ: save household, child and wife.”
The jailor stood and gripped Paul’s shoulder strong,
“I now believe this Christ, but come along,
Enlighten all my house: bear truth to ears
And bear aloft the banner each foe fears.”
So, in the dead of night, the trio leave.
For ears in homes they threads of truth reweave.
The tapestries Paul made in air unfold,
With tales of miracles and crowns past gold
The eyes of servants, wife, and children rapt
Stay course on Paul, while hearts the Lord adapts.
When tale was fully told with Christ’s return,
Each heart felt flame of truth within it burn.
Every Prisoner Chooses to Remain in Prison
With daybreak came officials to the jail,
To seek the faithful guard, to no avail.
Yet, though he left, the prisoners remain,
Unfettered, sitting ‘twixt the broken chains.
“Where is the jailor who should hold you here?”
Officials ask their unbound volunteers.
“Returned to home, to save his family there,
For with him went the two of hymns and prayer,”
The prisoners replied, still sitting fast.
“What keeps you here?” in marvel, Roman asked.
“We wait in hope the worshippers may yet
Return and sate the questions they have whet.”
He sets his guards to locking chain and cell,
And makes his path to where the guard does dwell.
He meets the man he seeks and speaks, “Our chief,
Has ordered preachers be allowed relief.
Officially, they’ve been made free to go,
I’ve heard that’s made complete, already, though.”
Officials were so shocked by felon’s stay,
They feared to punish th'guard’s unlawful way.
St. Paul Demands Real Pardon
HE JAILOR told his honored guests with glee,
But, Paul wished more than state to set them free.
He knew his rights beneath the Roman law,
And sought the men before they could withdraw,
For Rome still held the throne in hands of man,
Who fear not King, but capital command.
“Has not injustice plagued this whole event?
Can citizens of Rome be flogged and sent
Into imprisonment without a trial?
And, then, would not the town our church revile,
If they believed its founders criminal?
Go tell the rulers: lend proof visible
And escort both of us from here to gate
Our utter innocence to demonstrate.”
The officer reports the news along,
And dark alarm was spread o’er their great wrong.
The high officials don their solemn frowns,
Apologize, and help them out of town.
Further and Further
The two, rejoined by Timothy and Luke,
Were pleased by Romans heeding their rebuke,
And keeping all the angry men at bay,
That none could e’er assail them on their way.
The fervent faces of the faithful few
Who heard and saw the light, bid them adieu.
No darkened prison cell, nor earth withal
Nor jealous-made old laws e’er make love fall.
Not e’en in westward Thessalonica where
Repenting people Christ as King declare,
And Jews made threats to stop their beating hearts
So that, when church is set, the group departs.
Then to Berea, where they gathered crowd,
There into which, pursuing Jews enshroud
And whisper lies, polluting hearts with doubt.
But, every effort ne’er could cast truth out.
Oh, Lord, flood lifeblood all the Way to Rome,
To kingdom heart from knightly catacomb,
The banner of the Lord still billows high
And trials all more serve to help it fly.
THE STORY CONTINUES IN PART V BELOW
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