But Simon shook his head. "Thou art young, Iddo," he said querulously, "and hast much to learn. There is a storm at hand and it will blow no good to the church; I have said it, and thou wilt see. Do I not stand at this gate and see them that go in and out? I hear also many things--for the Lord hath preserved my ears, and they that enter mind me no more than yonder stone bench--listen!" and the old man held up a shaking hand. "Yesterday I admitted two--four--five of them that be rich and mighty--I will not name them. They remained within, three whole hours by the shadow on yonder dial, then they came out together.
"’’Tis a goodly thought of Annas to first put out of the way the pestilential Greek,’ quoth one, ’the witnesses will not be hard to find.’
"’I trow not,’ said another with a laugh, ’words are cheap both for the buying and selling; as for the fellow Stephen, he doeth more mischief among the common people in a week than the slow-witted hinds whom they call apostles could accomplish in a month.’"
"Hist, boy! Now thou seest that though I am old--and as thou hast said, given to over-much foreboding--there is a deadly mischief on foot."
"The Lord will smite them if they lay but a finger on Stephen," exclaimed the young man indignantly. "’Tis such as he that the Lord’s flock hath need of; daily doth he work great miracles of healing, and his voice is heard in every synagogue persuading men to believe on Jesus the Christ. Men listen gladly; and to listen is to be convinced of the truth."
"Ah, boy! ’tis because of these very things that they hate him; were he less than he is, they would not lay a finger on him."
"God spared not his own son," said the old man solemnly. "He suffered him to be tortured and to be slain at the hands of these very men; and the servant is not greater than his Lord."
The other was silent for a time; all the brightness had faded out from his face. "Who is within now?" he said, at length.
"Saul of Tarsus," replied Simon, briefly.
"I shall warn them of the household of John of this thou hast told me?"
"Assuredly, but let it not be bruited abroad; there is nothing to be gained by it, and perhaps much to be lost. If the young man Stephen--" but the clang of the bell interrupted him, and he hastened to open. "Enter, my lord, I pray thee. It is so, my lord Annas is within, and with him the Rabbi Saul."