Fire and Sword (27 page)
Authors: D. Brian Shafer
“I like Paul!” exclaimed Crispin. “Here is a man who has learned a great deal. Think of it, Serus! A brilliant man in human terms. A man of letters. Versed in his nation’s law. But he was lost in that pride that causes religion to become poison.”
Paul stood to his feet.
“And now he dare not speak until he has asked for the Spirit’s help!” Crispin continued. “Wise is a man who waits on God before opening his mouth.”
Serus looked at Pellecus. “Angels as well!”
Crispin nodded in agreement.
Chronicles of the Host
Corinthian Success
Upon leaving Athens, Paul and his friends continued in their mission to bring truth and light to a world darkened by ignorance and fear. His training in tent-making proved a blessing, as he worked with some Jews friendly to him named Aquila and Priscilla. As usual, the enemy was at work, stirring up the other Corinthian Jews in opposition to Paul. In anger, Paul told them that from now on they may remain in darkness—he would reach the Gentile world.
But the Most High, proving as always that He is long-suffering toward those in bondage, spoke to Paul in a vision and told him that there was great success to be found in Corinth. Thus Paul ignored the threats of the Jews and remained in Corinth for some time. But as Paul’s resolve was to bring light to the darkest corners of this world, his heart pulled him back toward one of the darkest of cities in this corrupted world: Ephesus.
Ephesus was ripe with spirits. The city itself was a stronghold of magic, sorcery, and worship of vile and sensual gods from all over the world. Kara had seized upon the human tendency to exalt things of which they are ignorant; consequently, when a fragment of rocky debris fell to the earth and landed near the city, the citizenry, influenced by Kara, proclaimed the favor of a goddess named Artemis, and built a great temple to her.
This temple was a great source of pride to our fallen brothers, for many humans throughout the world paid homage to this goddess. Her shrine, housed where the rock fell, beckoned men and women to adore her and bring great offerings. Some men, unscrupulous and greedy, even took to selling images of the goddess for mere money. Many of the Host were thankful they knew nothing of money, nor did they want such knowledge.
For two years Paul and his group labored in Ephesus. Kara did his best to compromise the witness of Paul. It was not Kara who caused Paul a great deal of grief however, but a man, a devotee of Artemis who saw his influence waning and his fortune dwindling because of the message these men brought to the Ephesians…
E
PHESIAN
E
NCOUNTER
Ephesus, A.D. 54
“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
The men looked at each other with bemused expressions. They had become acquainted with the teachings of Jesus from disciples of John the Baptist who had come to Ephesus a while back. But what was this talk of the Holy Spirit? A new teaching?
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there was a Holy Spirit.”
Paul looked at them. “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied. “Some of his followers taught us and baptized us all. The twelve of us.”
“Excellent!” Paul said, commending the men. “But John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Turning away from sin. Don’t you recall that he also told the people to believe in the One coming after him?”
The men looked at Drachus, the unofficial spokesman of the group. He walked over to Paul and nodded.
“Yes, they spoke of One who was greater than John. We were told to await His coming.”
“He has come, my friend,” said Paul. “Jesus of Nazareth. And after His coming He ascended to Heaven where He is now. It is in His name that you must now be baptized—that is, the name of Jesus.”
“Must we be baptized in Jesus to be saved?” one of the men asked.
“No, no,” Paul said. “Your baptism in Jesus is an indication of Jesus’ life. Nothing will attain salvation apart from faith. But baptism will proclaim now and forever the great work that the Lord has done in your hearts.”
On hearing this, the men huddled together and spoke for a few minutes. Finally Drachus came back to Paul. “We are so glad you came to Ephesus,” he said. “We have been waiting for this day. And we would welcome baptism in the name of Jesus.”
Paul and Silas rejoiced as the men led them to a body of water. Here they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in unknown languages. They also prophesied in the name of the Lord. As the men left, wet and worshipful, Silas turned to Paul. “This bodes well for Ephesus,” he said. “May this city be ripe for the Spirit!”
But Paul sensed something else. “The city is indeed ripe for the Spirit, Silas,” he said. “But pray, my friend. Ephesus is already ripe with many spirits.”
Ephesus was one of the most spiritually desolate places Paul had ever visited. Teeming with spiritualists, diviners and fortunetellers, occultists and astrologers, as well as a great many charlatans who took advantage of people’s fears for a price, Ephesus was a place of great darkness. Paul looked up at the great temple of Artemis, its many columns and beautiful edifice paying homage to the goddess whose shrine was within.
Paul bit into a piece of fruit as he thought about the day’s plan.
Being full of darkness, commerce, and all of the sensual pleasures imaginable, Ephesus attracted all sorts. The Ephesians considered themselves very sophisticated, even on par with the other great cities of the empire. Paul saw Ephesus as a supreme place of demonstration—a showcase for the Lord’s light in the midst of darkness. Silas yawned as a group of men scuffled by.
“There they go,” said Silas, pointing to them.
“Ah, the Sceva family,” said Paul. “Taking on another victim, I suppose.”
“How do they do it?” asked Timothy, who had been with Paul ever since joining him two years earlier. “I mean—how can they cast demons out of people when they themselves do not call upon the Lord?”
Paul watched the men—seven brothers—disappear into a house. He had heard how they went about driving unclean spirits from people. Ever since Paul had arrived in Ephesus he had seen the worst in men’s ability to play on people’s fears and make a living. Still, these men seemed to have a successful record of driving out spirits who were harassing people. As far as Paul was concerned, it was one big fraud.
“You must understand the enemy,” said Paul. “The ultimate motive of Lucifer is to deceive men—to keep them in the dark. If they can do so by mimicking the Lord’s ability to overcome darkness, then all the better.”
“But they attribute it to the Lord!” Timothy protested. “How can that serve Lucifer’s purposes?”
“Because they are falsely attributing,” Paul explained. “Think of it. If they can appear as a spirit of a dead family member or some other being who brings encouraging words, then of what use is the Lord? No, our enemy is clever. And he will use anything—even the Lord’s name—if it will deceive in the end.”
“Then prepare to witness deception,” said Silas, looking past Paul. “For here they come!”
“What are you doing?” Kara demanded. “Why are you guiding those men to Paul? You know I don’t approve of such things!”
“Don’t worry, Kara,” said Grolus. “By consorting with Paul, they will gain credibility just as Paul will lose his. I only thought …”
“It’s time you quit thinking and start serving me as you are told. I will tell you what to think and when! These men are dangerous.”
“As you wish, my lord,” said Grolus.
“And be extra efficient today,” Kara added. “Your authority here in Ephesus was a personal appointment by Lucifer himself. And he is coming to see your administration in action. Make it good!”
Grolus seethed with anger toward Kara. After all, it was Grolus’ idea to begin deceiving these men—these seven brothers—and using them in a farce to mimic the Lord. Yet ever since he met with success by working with accommodating spirits who pretended to be cast out of people, Kara had taken charge as if he were the one who had begun this work. And now these seven sons of Sceva had become Kara’s point of pride in Ephesus—a hallmark which he used to point out the efficiency of his administration to Lucifer. Grolus turned toward Kara, who was droning on about the men.
Don’t you worry, Kara,
Grolus said to himself.
I will indeed make it good today. As you say—extra smart!
The men approached Paul cautiously. Paul stood and offered them a place in the shade near him. They were surprised that this man—who they viewed as competition for the hearts and minds of Ephesians—would be so cordial. One of the brothers, a man named Jason, spoke first.
“You have done well in Ephesus,” Jason began. “You have been here for over a year now.”
“Two years,” Paul corrected.
“Yes. And in those two years we have both been doing good work. Serving the great power you serve.”
The man stopped, waiting for a response from Paul, yet Paul only listened.