Apostles -- Biography -- Juvenile literature; Paul, the Apostle, Saint -- Juvenile literature
The days grew to weeks and the weeks to months; the months added
themselves and made years in Tarsus in the first century just as happens
now where my young reader lives. Time and the multiplication table go on
in one century exactly as in another, no matter what else changes.
Before the father and mother could quite realise it, or believe it
possible, Saul, once our little boy, who looked out on his world and
wondered, was old enough to go away from his home to a great school in
Jerusalem where perhaps all his questions could be answered though only
for a little while. His sister had married now and lived in Jerusalem
and it was arranged for Saul to have his home with her while he was
studying with the famous Rabbi Gamaliel, who knew better than almost any
one else the law, and the rules by which the daily life of a strict Jew
should be guided so that he might be perfect.
Through the Syrian Gate in the Amanus ridge, Saul had gone with his
father on their way to the holy city for the Passover and for a short
time of sight-seeing and visit before the hard work of the school began.
They came on through Antioch of Syria, the first great city which Saul
had ever seen and one which some day he would know much better; then
they journeyed on by hard and dangerous roads until they saw Damascus,
with its two beautiful rivers and its high city walls. Some day Saul
would know this city better too! And the time would come when he would
find out how high those city walls were! Every foot of the road from
Damascus was crowded with interest and excitement for this
fifteen-year-old boy who was seeing the holy land for the first time.
Now he thrilled in a new way as he actually saw with his eyes the scenes
which before he had only pictured in imagination. When they crossed the
Jordan, just south of the blue lake of Gennesareth, he could hardly
contain himself. More than once he threw himself on the ground with his
arms outspread as though he were trying to grasp the country and embrace
it.
The road up from Jericho to Jerusalem was so dangerous and he had heard
so many tales of robbers there that he was too frightened to enjoy the
journey. But when at length _the city_—the city of all the world—with
its shining temple gleaming in the sun came in sight, he forgot all
about robbers and dangers and his sore and tired feet, and fell on his
face and thanked God for letting him see the Holy City about which he
had dreamed and imagined ever since he was a tiny boy. There it was! It
was no dream but a real city, with real streets and walls and houses,
and above all the temple, to his mind the holiest place in all the
world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account