Fire and Sword Read Free

him. Though he was strong in heart and mind, and even physically strong, his hair had become much greyer and his face more careworn. Ah, but what a wonderful three years!
    How fitting, he thought to himself as he looked about the room, that they should await the Lord’s promised Holy Spirit in the same place where only weeks before they had received the final Passover supper with Jesus. He could almost see them all again—seated around the Passover and wondering which of them would betray their Lord.
    Is it I, Lord?
How those words rang with a sharpness that would never be repeated nor forgotten. All of them had stood with Jesus. They had witnessed His miracles and seen His teaching open the hearts of men and women. They had ridden with Him in triumph only weeks before as the people shouted “Hosannah! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” And they were with Him a few days later when this same crowd turned on Him like wolves, demanding His death. Peter was ashamed that it was one of Jesus’ own who was the traitor.
    How could you, Judas?
Peter looked to the place where Judas sat that night and thought back to that last Passover. How Judas had led the priest’s men to where Jesus was praying; how Peter rose to fight, cutting off the servant’s ear; how Jesus healed the man and submitted to His captors. But it wasn’t really Judas’ betrayal that stung—that had been prophesied. It was his own. He had denied Jesus not once—but three times—in His greatest hour of need. Thank the Lord for His grace and reconciliation that brought Peter back into fellowship with Jesus. But it still hurt to think about.
    And now they awaited … what? Jesus’ instruction was to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. But what did that mean? How should they know when the Spirit of God arrived? As a leader among this group, he wanted to be more certain of what should happen. And so they did exactly what Jesus had told them: they watched and prayed.
    In the meantime they had selected another man named Matthias to take the place of Judas. Matthias was a good man who had been with them from the beginning. So they drew lots between him and another good man named Justus. The lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered among the twelve.
    “How many weeks now, Peter?” asked Andrew, his brother.
    “A few,” said Peter. “But we must learn patience, Andrew. We must set the example, or they might lose heart.”
    “But we need provisions once more. Shall I send out?”
    “In this crowded city?” he responded. “There are so many people coming in from all over the Jewish world for Pentecost that the prices are outrageous.”
    “I’ll see to the supplies that we have,” said Andrew. “Shall I have the ladies cut back on portions? Peter?”
    Peter was looking past Andrew and through the window behind him. He seemed lost in thought. He looked up and around as if he were hearing something…a noise that was barely perceptible. For a second he cocked his head, straining to understand. Andrew remained silent, trying to hear, but hearing nothing. Finally Peter looked at him.
    “What are you doing?” Andrew asked. “Was it the Lord?”
    “I don’t know,” said Peter. “I thought I heard…” He put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder.
    “Best not send for provisions today, brother,” he said. He looked around again. The people remained in groups praying and worshiping and talking. “I’m not sure, but I feel like something is about to happen.”

    “Where are they now?” asked Drachus. “Still in that house?”
    “Yes,” said Berenius, “they are still praying. Just as Jesus instructed. They come and go. Mostly come.”
    “The sheep have no shepherd anymore,” sneered Drachus. “He left them! I would be praying too!”
    Berenius shook his head.
    “He left them, yes. But with instruction to pray until they received power. This war is far from over.”
    The two dark angels watched as more and more holy angels descended