The evening air was cool as always, but the feeling in Berechiah’s heart as he made his way home was anything but.

The day had been a peaceful one, with him and his colleagues at the temple carrying out their usual work of counting monies for the upkeep of the saints. However, the last hour had brought quite an unexpected twist, and it was safe to say that the weight of what he had witnessed pressed on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

His steps were brisk and his mind was racing with the events that had just unfolded at the temple. Shaking his head as he walked on, he muttered to himself, “Just as we experience outstanding highs, these lows decide to show up. Have mercy on us, Elohim. Have mercy on us.” 

A few minutes later, and he stepped through the doorway, where he found his older brother reclining on a mat, resting from the day’s labour.

Gedaliah lifted himself upon seeing him. “Berechiah, brother! You are back home!”

Berechiah nodded grimly.

The dim glow of an oil lamp cast long shadows on the walls, but even in the low light, Gedaliah could see the worry etched onto his brother’s face. 

He sat up immediately. “Berechiah, what is wrong? You do not seem yourself.”

Berechiah exhaled, running a hand through his hair before looking at his brother. “It is the apostles, brother. Only an hour ago, the high priest and the Sadducees stormed the temple and seized all of them—Peter, John, Bartholomew, the others—and sent them off to prison.” 

Gedaliah sighed, shaking his head. “Lord have mercy. Not again.”

Berechiah sat down heavily, his expression troubled. “They were full of so much indignation, Gedaliah. You could see it in their faces—their rage, their hatred. Anyone can see how much this new life enrages them. They can’t stand the name of Jesus being preached. They can’t stand the signs and wonders being done. And so, they seized them.” 

Gedaliah’s jaw tightened. “They think they can stop this.”

Berechiah nodded. “Yes. But they cannot. This is not of man, it is of the Lord.”

“Indeed.”

They both gave off sighs before silence settled between them for a moment, the weight of the situation thick in the air.

This new move of God was like a flame in the darkness, yet it continued to draw the moths of opposition, eager to snuff it out.

Then Gedaliah straightened, his voice firm. “We need to pray for them.”

Berechiah nodded. “Yes. That the Lord will strengthen them. That He will deliver them.”

Gedaliah exhaled deeply, then stood. “Then let’s not waste another moment. Father and Mother are not home; we shall inform them when they return, so we continue with them. Morris and Amariah as well.”

“Very well, brother. Let us pray.”

And with that, the two brothers knelt together, lifting their voices to the One who was greater than any high priest or council, praying for boldness and protection of the beloved apostles.

And for the unstoppable work of the kingdom of God.

***

The morning air was crisp as Berechiah walked through the streets of Jerusalem with Moriss and Amariah, the city already coming to life around them in familiar fashion. The vendors they knew all too well were setting up their stalls, the aroma of that good old freshly baked bread drifting through the air, and the usual flow of people moved toward the temple for prayer and teaching. 

Their minds, however, were barely fixated on the routine activity around them. After a long night of prayer and intercession, they still had the apostles on their mind, wondering what was happening to them.

“I still cannot believe they were arrested,” Amariah murmured, glancing at her husband. “These priests truly despise all that is happening.”

Moriss exhaled sharply. “Neither can I. But… I do have a feeling that something is about to happen. We have seen it before, and I know it can happen.”

Berechiah walked slightly behind them, his expression tense but hopeful. “Well, you are right, Morris. I guess we shall find out soon enough.”

As they turned the final corner leading up to the temple courts, they were met with an unexpected sight.

A massive commotion.

People were gathered in droves, murmuring and gesturing wildly toward the center of the courtyard. The noise of voices filled the air, excitement and astonishment thick among them. 

The trio looked at each other in surprise.

“What’s going on?” Amariah asked, quickening her pace.

Berechiah’s heart pounded as they weaved through the crowd, moving toward the source of the commotion. When they finally pushed past the last line of people, what they saw stopped them in their tracks.

There—standing freely in the middle of the temple courts—were the apostles.

Berechiah’s breath caught in his chest. “Oh my goodness!”

“Incredible!” Amariah breathed. “It is as though they were never arrested.”

Berechiah shook his head. “But that cannot be the case. I was here yesterday. I saw them taken to prison last night!”

Moriss simply smiled and patted his younger cousin on the back. “I told you something special was about to unfold.”

The apostles stood tall in the center of the temple, their faces radiant with conviction and courage. And in the center of them, James, the son of Zebedee, was preaching with fiery passion.

“The God of our fathers has glorified His Servant Jesus—the One whom the rulers rejected, whom they sought to silence. But death could not hold Him, nor can men restrain the word of the Lord!”

A chorus of “Amen!” and “Praise be to God!” erupted from the crowd. 

Berechiah turned to Moriss, nodding. “Indeed, you were right. The power of God is at work.” 

James continued, his voice rising above the noise. “Brothers and sisters, hear us! The Word of the Lord cannot be chained! Just as the grave could not hold Jesus, neither can prison bars hold back His witnesses! The Lord Himself has sent us here today, and we proclaim to you—Repent and believe in the name of Jesus, for there is salvation in no other!”

The crowd stirred with excitement, many nodding in agreement, some raising their hands in praise.

James, his eyes ablaze with conviction, continued. “For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ Jesus is that Prophet, the one whom God foretold through all the prophets, saying that He would come to turn each of you from your wicked ways!”

And then… 

A new disturbance emerged.

Berechiah, Moriss and Amariah turned to see what the new commotion was. And their hearts sank.

The captain of the temple and his officers had arrived, pushing roughly through the sea of people. Their expressions were tense, their eyes flicking between the apostles and the swelling crowd.

Berechiah inhaled sharply. “Here we go again.” 

The lead officer stepped forward, his voice controlled but urgent. “You men—come with us. Now.”

The apostles exchanged glances but did not resist. 

It was clear, however, that something was different this time.

Berechiah noted the way the officers moved—not with the force and aggression from the night before. There were no harsh grips, no shoving, no chains, no fury-filled shouts and insults. Instead, there was almost… a hesitation in their stance.

And then Berechiah understood.

Of course! They are afraid.

The officers would not dare use violence— not in front of a crowd this large and impassioned.  The people had seen too much and heard too much. If the guards laid a hand on the apostles unjustly, there would be outrage, and they even ran the risk of getting dragged outside and stoned to death by the people.

Even as the apostles turned to follow the officers, James looked back at the crowd one last time, his voice ringing out.

“Brothers and sisters, be strong in the faith! The Lord is with us!”

A cheer broke out as the apostles departed, their heads held high and their confidence unwavering.

Berechiah let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“This is far from over,” Moriss muttered.

Berechiah nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the receding figures of the apostles. “Yes, this is far from over,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “One of them once preached, if I recall correctly, that if they hated Jesus, they would hate us too. And here it is, playing out before our very eyes.”

Hmmm, the apostles sure dealt with a lot of slack from the religious authorities. But hey, they went after Jesus too, so no surprise…