Another bright and beautiful day saw the morning sun bathed the streets of Jerusalem in golden light as Gedaliah made his way toward his next masonry job. The city bustled with the usual activity—merchants setting up their stalls, the aroma of fresh bread drifting from nearby homes, and travelers making their way to the temple for the morning prayers.

The atmosphere among the saints was improving by the day. According to Mathea, the disagreements had significantly lessened, and the Hellenist widows seemed a lot more content with their shares. It was clear that the seven men waiting on tables had restored sanity and harmony to the church.

All glory to God for choosing those men; they had fixed the cracks that had begun to appear, and now all was well.

As he turned a familiar corner, he spotted two familiar figures walking toward him—Talmor and Gideon.

“Gedaliah!” Talmor called, his voice bright with cheer. 

Gedaliah grinned. “Talmor! Gideon!”

The three men clasped arms in greeting, their laughter warm with delight.

“Where are you off to this early?” Gideon asked.

“I have another job to tend to,” Gedaliah replied, adjusting the strap of his tool bag over his shoulder.

Talmor exchanged a glance with Gideon. “Then we will walk with you,” he said. “We finished our work in the fields early today.”

Gedaliah chuckled. “Ah, so the farmers have an easy day?”

“Easy day? Hardly,” Gideon laughed. “The work is never truly done, but we are ahead of schedule, so we thought to come into the city and just see what is going on.”

“Very well. Let’s move, shall we?”

The three began walking together, falling into step easily, the sounds of Jerusalem surrounding them. For a few moments, they stayed silent as they enjoyed the familiarity of their surroundings, and the everyday beauty it served them with. The sights of gleeful children playing, the sounds of vendors calling out for customers, the smells of their favourite foods… they took it all in as they walked along.

After a few moments, Gideon spoke, his voice laced with excitement. “Have you seen Stephen lately, Gedaliah?”

Gedaliah glanced at him. “Not since the day they were appointed. I have seen that he and the other six have brought some stability to food distribution, though.”

Talmor nodded. “Then you have missed much! He is doing so much more than bringing stability to the brethren. Stephen has been performing wonders—healings, miracles. The Lord is truly with him.”

Gedaliah’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. This piece of information had somehow flown right under his radar. “Really? Stephen?”

Gideon grinned. “Yes. It is astonishing! The disciple chose wisely when they appointed him and the others. He does not only serve tables—he serves the people, just as the Lord did.” 

Talmor exhaled in amazement. “The wisdom he speaks with, the power that flows through him—it is undeniable. Some among the synagogues have taken notice, however, and not all of them are pleased.”

Gedaliah frowned slightly. “Of course, they are not. Many of them are still determined to resist the truth of Jesus.”

Gideon nodded. “That is true. But Stephen does not fear them. He speaks boldly, and the Lord continues to work through him.”

Gedaliah felt a surge of gladness run through his system. This was pleasant to hear.

“Praise be to God for that. The kingdom is growing. Even with all the opposition, His power is being made known.”

Talmor clapped a hand on Gedaliah’s shoulder. “It is good to see, my friend. And it is good to be part of it.”

Gedaliah smiled, his heart full. The road ahead might be difficult, but the work of God could not be stopped. No matter who tried.

They continued walking, their laughter and conversation carrying through the streets as they discussed various topics ranging from Talmor’s betrothal to a young lady named Zillah to Gideon’s imminent harvest.

Just three young men full of the joy that filled those who walked in the Way.

***

The afternoon sun hung lower in the sky as Gedaliah wiped the sweat from his brow, slinging his tool bag over his shoulder.

Another long but fruitful day of work was behind him, with another satisfied customer.

“Send my regards to your father!” the pleased customer called as Gedaliah began to walk away.

He smiled and nodded. “I certainly will, Master Othniel!”

As he made his way through the city, he hummed to himself the ‘Song of Moses’…

I will sing to the Lord,

for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

he has hurled into the sea.

As he hummed on, memories of his younger days sprung to mind, when Mathea and Shiloh led him and Berechiah to sing these songs of praise. When they were children, and all they sought was the approval of their parents.

Suddenly, his mind drifted to marriage.

Talmor had already mentioned that he would be marrying soon, and he could not help but wonder about his own future marriage. Two years earlier, when he was eighteen, Shiloh had assured him that within two years, once he secured his status as a top mason, a wife would be found for him immediately.

Gedaliah smirked to himself. “It is probably just as well that I was reminded of this,” he chuckled. “I shall remind him this evening when I get home.”

As he walked on, he decided to pass by the temple before heading home, eager to see if any of the brethren were gathered there.

As he approached, however, a sound from the temple caught his attention.

Raised voices.

Angry voices.

Gedaliah slowed his steps, his brow furrowing. The sounds were not the usual murmurs of teaching or discussion. These sounds were sharp, heated words, filled with frustration and challenge.

Is there a fight going on? Has another dispute broken out? What is going on?

Curious, he stepped toward the temple courts and wove through the gathering crowd. 

At the center of the temple was Stephen, and facing him were several men—learned, well-dressed, their eyes blazing with indignation.  

Gedaliah blinked. “What is happening here?” he wondered out loud. 

Just then, a familiar voice spoke beside him, answering his question.

“They are debating with him,” Talmor murmured, stepping into view.

Gedaliah turned his head slightly. “Talmor? Who are these men?”

Talmor kept his eyes fixed on the scene before them. “Men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen—Cyrenians, Alexandrians, others from Cilicia and Asia. You know them, right? Well-known for their zeal in defending the traditions of the elders. They have come here in the belief that they can outmatch him.” 

Gedaliah watched as one of the men, a stern-looking scholar, pointed sharply at Stephen. “You twist the words of Moses!” he accused. “You speak blasphemies against the temple, against the law!”

But Stephen remained unshaken. His face was calm, his eyes steady. When he spoke, one could tell that his words were filled with wisdom.

Wisdom that did not come from mere human knowledge, but from the Spirit of God Himself. 

“The law and the temple are not the foundation of salvation,” Stephen declared. “Moses himself spoke of the One who was to come—‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to Him!’” 

The men before him scowled, some scoffing, but they had no immediate response.

Gedaliah crossed his arms, shaking his head in amazement. “They thought they could outwit him there.”

Talmor let out a low chuckle. “Yet here they stand, fumbling for words.”

The men pressed on, grasping at arguments, but each time Stephen answered with clarity and authority. His words easily rebutted every accusation of theirs, making it clear how futile their aggression was against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Gedaliah exhaled. “I see what you and Gideon spoke of earlier. Truly, the Lord is with him.” 

Talmor nodded, a hint of awe in his voice. “Indeed. The Spirit works through him mightily.” 

But even as he marveled, a small unease settled in his stomach as he turned to Talmor. “You know these men will not take this humiliation lightly, though. We need to pray for him.”

Talmor nodded slowly. “That is true. With all that has happened to the apostles, only God knows what they may attempt on him. We shall pray and ask the Lord to keep him safe from harm.”

Gedaliah nodded as his eyes fixed on Stephen once more.

“Certainly, we shall. He needs it. He truly needs it.”

Hmmm, we can only imagine what these men will have in store for Stephen…