Pillars of Barabbas by M.D. House

Author:M.D. House
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M.D. House
Published: 2021-02-22T19:18:39+00:00

Chapter 11 (Publius)

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

The news that Matthew’s parents and sisters had been called to Rome and had traveled straight there came as a shock to him and Simon. Elhanan also seemed surprised, but not worried. He reassured Matthew they would all manage fine.

Since the sailing season was ending soon and preparations would take some time, Peter had directed newly arrived Joseph the Just to arrange passage for Simon and Matthew to Rome at the beginning of the next season. Joseph and his family moved into their home with them, and while they seemed a little more uptight than people from Melita, Matthew liked them. They were good people, and kind.

Less than a month later, as he and Simon, with help from Elhanan, Junia, and Dan, were in the midst of readying some of the family’s possessions for sale, Paul arrived for a brief stop on his way to Corinth, having come from Syracuse on one of the few ships that tempted the end of the season. It was a glorious relief to see him, and the spirit of every saint on the island soared. He was nearly mobbed everywhere he went, but he declared it all an incredible joy as he made a whirlwind tour from place to place, and sometimes house to house. He spent time with Jonas and his family, too, bolstering their faith and hope.

But Paul was there for more than a short reunion and some welcome ministering before sailing quickly away again. He ordained Publius as the new bishop of Melita, and then he shocked everyone when he called and ordained Elhanan to be the bishop of Ephesus. Elhanan the orphan, Matthew’s older brother by adoption, being called to move to Asia Minor and become a bishop? That meant there would be nobody left on Melita from their family. And Melita felt like home, though the intensity of that feeling varied from day to day.

Matthew took note of how humbly and earnestly Elhanan and Junia accepted the call. He had been thinking a lot about Cornelius’s invitation to join him in Africa. He had discussed it with Sapphira on several occasions, and some of those discussions had become heated. She wanted him to stay on Melita and marry her. Part of him wanted that, too, but he kept feeling a pull toward B’Ashra. He offered up the possibility of getting married and going together, or his going for a year or two and then returning, but he couldn’t convince her.

With Elhanan’s example and some intense prayers, he finally made his decision. It would break Sapphira’s heart, and probably his own, but he would accept the invitation. But first he needed to make sure Simon arrived safely in Rome.

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