The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
First mission of the messengers. Great teaching mission
- Chapter 142 -
The first missionary work of the dispatched apostles. Occasion of the weeping residents and the Herodian tax-extortionists. Missionary success. The converted extortionists as good witnesses to the disciples.
When after a couple of short hours the twelve had reached the above-mentioned market place, they found the residents before the market-gate huddled in groups, weeping, with some complaining most bitterly; because the Herodian tax-extortionists were terrorising the market, plundering houses, taking from insolvent parents their most beloved, best and most beautiful children, binding them together with ropes like cattle and throwing them on the oxen-drawn tax-wagons. When the disciples became aware of these abominations, they turned to me in their hearts.
2
Hearing in their hearts distinctly the words, 'Whatever you want shall at once take place', - when they perceived that, they said to the most miserable residents of the market-town, 'Peace be with you! May the kingdom of God, which we spread in the name of the Lord, be with you! Come with us to your market and we shall fix your problem with those unjust and most heartless tax-extortionists!'
3
Say the residents, 'Oh, there you shall not be listened to! Because those extorting the most unjust taxes are not humans, but wildest rapacious animals, who shall attack you most vehemently.'
4
Says Peter, 'Dear brethren, accept what we bring you; everything else the Lord shall accomplish! But gold and silver do not expect of us, but what we have, that you shall obtain from us. But now let us rush to the market, that the children may not suffer overduly!'
5
Moving upon the place with the residents, the disciples notice several wagons loaded with personal effects, some with children and some with sheep and cattle, with the tax-extortionists already giving the departure signal, not taking any notice of the screaming and wailing of the roped children.
6
Here Peter steps up to the chief tax-extortionist, speaking in the most urgent tone, 'Miserable wretch! With what right do you carry out these abominations?! Do you not know that an almighty God dwells above you Who can destroy you and your accomplices at once? Stand back from your abominations and return the lot, or you shall taste the sharpness of God's wrath on the spot!' - Says the chief tax-extortionist to Peter, 'Who are you, daring to talk to me in that tone? Are you by chance unaware of the power I wield through Herod, who obtains it through tenure from the emperor of Rome? Do you perhaps not know either that I can have anyone getting in my way killed instantly without trial?! Step back immediately! Another word and the edge of the sword catches up with you!'
7
Says Peter, 'Now then, since you - a son of Jacob notwithstanding - are a human no more, but a wild rapacious beast, may God's judgment hit you and your accomplices. Amen!'
8
When Peter had exclaimed this with great zeal, fire broke forth from the earth, consuming the chief instantly. Seeing this, his accomplices were so frightened that they fell down before Peter, promising to do any thing he orders, if only he would not punish them in this terrible manner!
9
Says Peter, 'So let go of the lot and depart in peace! But do not ever let you crave for such service to a Herod again; because with the first step, it shall happen to you as happened to the chief in front of your eyes!'
10
Upon these words, the tax-extortionists at once untied and released the children, doing similarly with all livestock, such as sheep and calves, together with whatever they had exacted from this place; to which they, together with Herod, had no right at all. Because this market had already purchased its freedom from Herod a year earlier, from the Romans, as other places too had done, due to the unlimited Herodian oppressions. But Herod was carrying out secret raids nullifying the redemption-deeds and giving his exactors all authority with new deeds, undertaking his accountability to the emperor.
11
Peter now went about extolling to the extortionists their injustice towards their brethren, whilst the former began to curse Herod and reproach themselves for lending the tyrant their ready hands.
12
Peter however now began to teach the kingdom of God and behold, all the tax-extortionists - nearly one hundred in all - were converted and followed Peter, and this was a good catch; because these very tax-extortionists became extremely active in their own right and considerably contributed to the rapid spreading of My teaching.
13
The residents of this market however hung unto the apostles for three days and even permitted themselves to be baptised in My name for the apostles also baptised with water and in My name, anyone who asked for baptism.
14
They had not yet actually been commanded by Me to do so, but knew it was not against My will.
15
The residents went to all lengths to host the disciples superbly and at the end also offered them money for having healed their sick. The disciples however did not accept any, nor anything else, which amazed the former tax-men, who said, 'Your unselfishness even more than your miraculous works persuades us of the fact that you are messengers of God, because men of this world are full of the blackest self-interest.'
16
Judas' eyes bulged of course, on seeing much gold, which was offered him; but Thomas was constantly at his side and so the money-hungry disciple did not this time dare accept any, which caused him much inner sorrow.
17
After three days however the disciples split up here into two's and between ten to fifteen of the converted tax-men went with these, rendering the disciples good service; for they had much courage and knew no fear before men.
18
The twelve now did as I had commanded them and they did well everywhere.
19
And what did I Myself do after sending the disciples out with the stated instructions?