As Sure as the Dawn(43)

John introduced others as they arrived. Timon, who bore the marks of a savage beating, was a fresco painter who had run into difficulty when he had been summoned by a priest of the Artemision and been commanded to paint a fresco honoring Artemis.

“I refused. When he demanded a reason, I told him my conscience forbade me creating anything honoring a pagan goddess. He was less than pleased with my answer.”

His wife, Porcia, held their children close, looking distressed and fearful. “Some men came into our home last night and destroyed everything.”

“They made my mother cry,” one of the boys said, his dark eyes on fire. “I’d like to make them cry.”

“Hush, Peter,” Porcia said. “The Lord would have us forgive our enemies.”

The boy looked mutinous, as did his younger brother Barna- bas, while little Mary and Benjamin clung to their mother’s sides.

Prochorus was a baker, and with him were his wife, Rhoda, and his sister Camella with her daughter Lysia. The man looked harassed, less by persecution for his faith than by the two women who stood on either side of him. Neither looked at the other. Lysia was the only member of the family who looked serene.

Four young men arrived, having heard from others that a band of Christians were leaving Ephesus. Bartimaeus, Niger, Tibullus, and Agabus, all not yet twenty, had already received the blessings of their families to go out into the world and spread the gospel. “There are voices enough here,” Niger said. “But what of Gaul or Britannia?”

“We want to spread the good news to those who haven’t heard it yet,” Agabus said.

The last man to arrive was Mnason. Rizpah was immediately impressed by his manner of speech.

Eunice leaned close. “He’s a well-known hypocrite,” she said in a whisper and smiled. Rizpah noted the way her eyes shone as she spoke. Apparently the woman was quite pleased at the prospect of being in the company of a renowned actor. “He’s called frequently to perform readings before the proconsul and other Roman officials. Isn’t he handsome?”

“Yes, he is,” Rizpah agreed, though she thought him somewhat affected. Mnason was a man of obvious dignity and polish, his voice proclaiming careful training and deliberation. He drew attention and was comfortable with it, almost expecting it. “Mnason recited one of King David’s psalms to guests of the city clerk who’d gathered for a feast the night before the Plebeian Games,” Eunice said softly, lifting little Antonia onto her lap.

“Which song did he recite?”

“Psalm two. ‘Worship God with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the son.’ At first, the guests thought Mnason was giving honor to their newly deified emperor, Vespasian, and his son Titus, now our illustrious caesar. Others suspected otherwise. Someone demanded an explanation, but Mnason said his courage failed him at that point. He told them the writer had been inspired of God, but that he did not know which god and the meaning was for each man and woman present to discern for themselves. ‘If you have ears to hear, you will hear,’ he said. Most of the guests thought it a riddle then and made a game of guessing. There were some who were not amused.”

Porcia joined them. “I don’t think Mnason should go with us. He’ll draw attention to us.”

Rizpah thought Mnason would draw far less attention than Atretes. The German would overshadow Mnason in an instant. Atretes wouldn’t even have to open his mouth or utter a word. His physical beauty was enough to command attention and his fierce charisma fascinated.

“The only ship taking on passengers is one from Alexandria,” Cleopas said. “It’s scheduled to leave in two days, weather permitting.”

“What’s its destination?” John said.

“Rome.”

“Rome!” Prochorus said in dismay.

“Have you ever heard Mnason recite?” Eunice asked Rizpah.

“No, I haven’t,” she said, wishing the woman would pay more attention to her two sons, Capeo and Philomen, who were arguing over a toy, and leave her alone to hear what the men were saying.

“The Lord blessed him with a remarkable voice and memory,” Eunice said, oblivious to her sons’ squabblings, her eyes fixed in admiration on Mnason. “When he became a Christian, he was hungry to learn as much Scripture as he could, and he did. He can recite over a hundred psalms and he knows Paul’s letter to our church in its entirety. When he’s reciting, I feel as though I’m hearing God’s voice.”

“I’ve heard the persecution is worse there,” Parmenas was saying.

“Are we going to Rome, Mama?” Antonia said, confused and frightened by the heightened emotions of the adults in the room. Eunice kissed her cheek. “Wherever we go, the Lord will go with us,” she said, smoothing the child’s hair back.