i^ 
 
 "The 
 
 Apostle 
 
 Paur 
 
 By R. H. Johnson, Jr., 
 
 Student in State University, 
 Louisville, Ky. 
 
 ^ 
 
 "I hope the time shall soon come 
 when men will gladly cease to be ene- 
 mies for opinion's sake." 
 

roPYRIGHT 
 APPLIED FOR. 
 
'"I hope the time shall soon come when 
 men will gladly cease to be enemies for 
 opinion's sake." 
 
 .■^"=<lol 
 
 f^-;,i^ 
 
 ROGER HORACE JOHNSON, JR. 
 State University. 
 
To Miss L. Frances Griffin, of Danville, Ky., whose 
 gentle words and winsome smiles inspired me, th(s 
 little play is gratefjully and affectionately dedicated 
 in admiration of her kindly interest and friendship. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Man! man! let each man use his brain. 
 
 To do what he thinks best; 
 Pure motive c own the ideal reign, 
 
 Against the obscure test. 
 
 Let no man dare to argue 'bout 
 Old worn-out dogma creeds; 
 
 Their sands of life have wasted out. 
 And this wo Id cr:es for deeds 
 
 The world at most, can teill the thief, 
 Who would cheat f eedom 's sway, 
 
 From rightened minds by stray belief, 
 And hide the light of day. 
 
 Believe in God! who but a fool 
 
 Denies His works of grace? 
 No man of age, or youth in school. 
 
 But what his paths can trace. 
 
 My mind oti youth once soared up high. 
 
 To heights of deepsit blue; 
 I rambled, searching in the sky 
 
 And found that it was true. 
 
 Like Job of old, thus leasoned I, 
 Of things hard to be solved; 
 
 My spirit breather the wondrous why 
 That long ago dissolved. 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 I called in qu€i3tion sainted ones 
 
 Who in Heaven sweetly lay. 
 While Hell engulfed the wicked ones 
 
 In woes eternal stay. 
 
 My soul in grief mourend, *'Is it just— 
 
 For such no mercy fell; 
 But human .souls must be thrust 
 
 Down in a cruel Heil? 
 
 By this I was misunderstood, 
 
 My schoolmates gave the yell, 
 Expressing disdain— ''You're no good"— 
 
 And called me Infidel. 
 
 Lydia was almost raised to Cote 
 
 She sadly sighed for Hope; 
 And when on Faith and works I wrote 
 
 Then truth for my sake spoke. 
 
 Ttie melancholy shades that gloomed 
 
 Were banished by her light, 
 And I awoke in joy boomed 
 
 To write with great delight. 
 
 I've written of the Hero's King, 
 
 The diamond gem of all — 
 The play of which the nations sing. 
 The great Apostle Paul. 
 
 T. W. H. GIBSON, 
 
 State University. 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 'THE APOSTLE PAUL." 
 
 Characters: 
 
 Paul, the Apostle. 
 Kipg Agrippa. 
 Festus, the Governor. 
 Tertellus, a Wealthy Pharisee Lawyer. 
 SimoQ, an Ethiopian. 
 Julius, a Centurion. 
 Lysias, a Chief Captain. 
 Bf-mice, the Queen. 
 Azala, Her Daughter. 
 Lydia, Daughter of Tertullus. 
 Lucretia, a Servant of Bernice. 
 Citizens, Soldiers, etc. 
 
 Synopsis: 
 Scene I — A public square before the jail. 
 Scene II — The Palace of the King. 
 Scene III— Th^ Palace of the King— TliroiLe Room. 
 Scene IV — The Courtroom. 
 Time: A. D. 62-4, 
 Place: Caesarea. 
 
 ROGER H. JOHNSON, JR., 
 State University. 
 
TPIE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Scene I. 
 
 (A public square in Ca-esarea. A great clamour is 
 •heard f:'om withcut. Enter Julius and Lysias hur- 
 riedly.) 
 
 Julius: W'iiat a monstrous uproar! What wild heastg 
 are those who thus assemble at this hour to rend 
 the tranquility of the cool morning air by such 
 lusty and enormous shouts? 
 Lysias: The Jews, of course; as usual, arguing 
 about their religion. They're always at it — first 
 the Pharisee, then the Sadducees — ^either afhrm- 
 ing or denying the existence of something. 
 Julius: 'Tis really ridiculous to argue about such 
 things. Men ought not differ; all men ought to 
 be absolutely orthodox in their views about reli- 
 gious matters and those who differ ought to be 
 killed, as quickly as possible. 
 Lysias: Thy views, I fear, are far too narrow; but 
 let us not worry about these things; for we have 
 other duties. 
 Julius: That Christian Paul, whom with great viol- 
 ence thou didst take out of the handsi of tho 
 Jews, is to be tried before the King. The Blas- 
 phemer ought to be killed. I sincerely hope that 
 he will get the full penalty and if need must be, 
 I'll give him what I gave that raving idiot, 
 Stephen. 
 Lysias: What has this Paul done to cause thee to 
 have such feelings of revenge against him? Is 
 he associated with any constructive enterprise? 
 
b THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Julius: Aye, indeed, s'ir, lie is; he's endeavoring to 
 con-struci; a nev/ religion out or this vile blasphe- 
 moiis heresy. 
 
 Lysias: Oh! that is not so bad, then. The more re- 
 ligions, the better; if they tell us aught of Love, 
 Truth or Justice. Indeed, sir, this is an age of 
 religions; there are many different religions in. 
 tho world and they all have their advocates— 
 either secretly or openly. Intelleet soars into 
 the ethereal realms of thought ,as well as into 
 the abysmal depths of knowle'dge and everyone 
 is thinking for himself. After all, I am inclined 
 to lock upon all religions as a never ceasing 
 struggle in every new period in the history of 
 the v\^orld toward a conception of life — ^both here^ 
 and hereafter. Now as for myself, I do not find 
 any fault in these Christians. They have their 
 own opinions and regardless of what may come 
 to them — regardless of what others say, think or 
 do — they never fail to express them when they 
 are permitted. They do not always wear fash- 
 ionable appprel — ^they are trustworthy. They 
 labor diligently ,faithfully guarding each other's 
 interest, but they never refuse to render assist- 
 ance to others. It doth appear to me that they 
 are a very charitable and innoeent class of peo- 
 ple. 
 
 Julius: They are a very dangerous and useless class 
 of Infidels and Blasphemers! Every one of 
 them ought to 'be killed — this Paul especially. 
 
 Lysias: Now, what foul crime has he committed? 
 
 Julius: Committed! Thou knowest full well how 
 this idle Blasphemer didst say that he gazed 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. \f 
 
 into th-e a7iire HeaA'^en and vowed by the ever- 
 burning sun tiiat he saw a light whose wondrous 
 brilliance did exceed the effulgence of old Sol 
 and this self same Christ, whom we crucified 
 years ago, to him did give command to declare 
 this blasph€my to all men. 
 Lysias: Well, how dost thou know but what he did? 
 What proof hast thou? Does belief or unbelief 
 ideistrov or create the existence of any thing? 
 Because thou believest him not, does that de- 
 stroy the validity of his vision or the veracity 
 of his statement? Can one man tell what an- 
 other man sees or does not see or do men see 
 and fail to see differently? 
 Julius: How durst thou defend this new religion, a 
 might wa.ve of Oceanus, heaven mountain high, 
 by the fierce burning wrath of Neptune, sweep- 
 ing powerfully ever and anooi, through the minds 
 of men and by its vile seditions destroying the 
 good ancient orthodox teachings of our sage and 
 reverend fathers and sinking the mighty gods of 
 yore into an Infinfiite vale of oblivion? Thou art 
 wiser than the reverend rabbis, who assemble 
 at the great Sanhedrin to hold sage converse. 
 A man in whose tranquil bosom rest the good 
 teachings of the Invites, grave pensive priest, 
 upon W'hose ?acred heads the divine oil of Jeho- 
 vah 's wisdom, hath been poured by ministering oji- 
 gels, ought not be so visibly affected by the vilei 
 blaspheonous heresy of these idle Christian fools. 
 Thou art almost a blasphemer thyself. 
 Lysias: That I may be, but first tell me, what is 
 blasphemy- Do not all religions strive to make 
 
10 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 men better? Do not the Moslems call us all 
 blaspli-pmeis*? The Greeks say that Jupiter will 
 destroy all. The Brahmans ar^e forever quarrel- 
 ing with the Buddhists, while there is a con_ 
 tinual wrangle between the Pharisees and Sad- 
 ducees. As for myself, J am not religious; the 
 goids' can. take care of their own affairs. Let 
 every man use his own light and do what he 
 believes to be best and if his motives be pure, 
 the gods, who are just and loving, will do their 
 duty. I know full many hypoerits, who declare 
 th^ot they bedleve but they do not practice what 
 they preach. 
 
 Julius: That all sounds well, but who should dare 
 aspire to say aught aaginst the good teachings 
 of the priests? We must perofrce constrain all 
 men to bow in humble subraisi'son to the will of 
 the Most High Ruler of Heaven and Earth, who 
 in no faltering tones, hath commanded us to slay 
 all who persuade us to go after other gods' and 
 they who pi"^sume to turn our feet astray, .shall 
 ibe slain by order of the Most High. 
 
 Lysias: How could the Most High, the giver of di- 
 verse opinions, persecute a man for opinion's 
 sake? 
 
 Julius: I know not how nor why, but 'tis our reli- 
 gious duty- our great love for him who brought 
 us peace and rest, will not suffer that each idle 
 Christian fool should his holy name and his sa- 
 cred temiple profane. 
 
 Lysias: Aye, sir; I perceive that thou knowestt not 
 what 'love is. Go ye and hear the words of Paul» 
 
 Julius: Hast thou heai-d him? 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 11 
 
 Lysias: Truly, sir; and — 
 
 Julius: Enougli; for thou hast to me unbosomed all 
 thy secrets — my interview has not been in vain. 
 JLiysias'. thou noble Jew, art secnreily in my pow- 
 er; from thine own lips hast thou confessed that 
 with this man thou hast often conversed. 'Tis 
 nothing more than I had suspected; yet these 
 words shall strengthen the coils which thou 
 hast entwined about thyself, hoping to secure 
 the love of Lydia, the fair daughter of Tertullus. 
 Olten have I observed thee, each evening, just 
 at sunset, journeying with Lydia, arm in arm, 
 towards the hidden catacomb of the Christians. 
 By thy influence Lydia has become a secret fol- 
 lower of this new religion; now what will be thy 
 fate if to Tertullus I divulge thy secrets? Will 
 ■he not surely Mil thee? Dost thou value thy 
 life or love Lydia? Then harken to my offer: 
 Now] noble Lysias (places his hand upon Lysias' 
 shoulder), I desire not to cause thee pain or mis- 
 fortune; a«sit me in my plans to overthrow the 
 King and thcu sha.lt be secure, a ruler in the 
 land, second only to me in power. Refuse me 
 and I go straight to Tertullus that he may know 
 of chy secret sias. 
 
 Lysias: Away with thy foul offer of life. Isittrea- 
 son? Nay, I sipum thy offers of life. ( I>rawing 
 his sword.) Thou shalt not live to execute thy 
 foul designs . (They fight. Julius is slightly 
 wounded.) 
 
 Julius: (Lustily.) What! Ho! Murder! Tlie 
 Guards'! The Guards! 
 
12 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Lyisas: Tliou Roman cur — wretched coward, si- 
 
 leiioe! Be ?. man! 
 Julius: (Struggling desperately.) Hold; I promise 
 silence. Sheath thy .sword; no sword of Roman 
 temper delights in Roman blood. 
 Lysids: I shall not let ihee live to dog my every 
 step, but with my own good b'word shall secure 
 tjhy silence. 
 
 (Enter several soldiers and citizens.) 
 Julius: Seize him quickly, men. 
 Yysias: He who touches me shall be the first to 
 
 feel the point of my sword. 
 First Soldier: Why fight ye, men, upon the public 
 
 :>qQa:e? 
 Julius: This man, a nefarious Christian, is guilty 
 of blasphemy and when 1 did attempt to chaf^- 
 itse him for his impietj", without due warning, 
 he struck me in the side ere I could raise my 
 shield 
 Lysias: Thou liest. 
 First Soldier: How speakest he thus? 
 Julius: He is a mad man. Seize him! Seize him! 
 
 In the name of the Most High, kill him. 
 Lysias: Thou dost mean the most high demon; thou 
 knowest nothing about God. It is written, ''They 
 that love not, knoweth not God; for God is 
 Love. " It is said that God is a spirit of infinib:^ 
 love and mercy and they who worship him must 
 worship him in spirit and in truth. Mere vain 
 conceited man in wild presumptuous egotism 
 looks on outward apearance but God looks at 
 the herirt. The man Vv'hcm you helped to crucify 
 once said, '' Blessed are the pure in heart." 
 
TPIE APOSTLE PAUL. 13 
 
 Now tiiat is tbe place for the indwelling of the 
 Holy Spirit — of Love, Truth, Justice, Libert5% 
 Equality and Fraternity — the Spirit of th-o 
 Christ; for God dwells not in gorgeous temples, 
 built by the hands of penny-egotistical hands of 
 T'Tien ,but his kingdom is in the hearts of men. 
 There is but one God — one religion — and thai is 
 Love — that altruistic regard for all beings, under 
 the starry vault ol: the boundless Heavens, re- 
 gardless? of race, color o" crtsd- cr-eated in the 
 divine image of Him who rules the uni^ 
 and it is mere than se It-evident that thou canst 
 not ostrac:'::e, d-rciimina.'^e. persecute or kill 
 fellow man for Love's swset sake. 
 
 A Citi::: en: A b av3 mm; he speaks well. 
 
 Junius: £?ize him! Why stand ye there like the 
 pyramids in Egypt built by the noble sons of 
 Ham for the pleasure of the ancient Phaaroahs? 
 Are ye all afraid of him? 
 
 A Citizen: This man doth not speak as one guilty 
 of blasphemy 
 
 Julius: Seize him, ^tis no time for idle flattery. 
 Seize him. 
 
 All: (Rushing ?A him.) Kill the blasphemer! Kill 
 liim ! 
 
 Lysias: Come you savage horde; I'll make my 
 trusty Roman sword drunk with blood, (They 
 all nght d-aRi:erateiy for some moments. Enter 
 King Agrippa, Teitullus and Festus, followed by 
 a company of guards. j 
 
 Festus: What means this bloody strife? Ye men 
 of Caesarea, cease your mighty conflict; tho 
 kins desires to speak. 
 
14 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 King Agrippa: Let no more blood be shed; as sov- 
 ereign of the land, it is my command that ye 
 jnfo:m me about tbis affair. 
 
 A Citizen: We are a*ttempting to brimg la blasiphem- 
 er to the bar of justice. 
 
 King Agrippa: Who is the blasphemer? Let him 
 come forth. (To Lysias) Art thou a Roman 
 citizen? 
 
 Lysias: Aj-e, sir; a faithful captain of thy ranks. 
 
 King Agrippa: What crime hast thou committeed? 
 
 Lysias: ..ot any; 1 eexrcised my right as a Romaa 
 citizen; 1 protected myself. 
 
 Julius: Most Excellent King, the blasphemer speak, 
 eth falsely; he is guilty of blasphemy and fraud, 
 having- by his vile sedition caste a precious 
 jewel into the cesspool of this new heresy. 
 
 Festus: How i.s this? 
 
 Tertullus: I know this Lysias; he's a dangerous 
 man, fearing neither gods or men. Look! How 
 now the blood doth stain his sword; a .siword 
 ought not be entrusted to him. 
 
 Lysias: Gracious King, to thee I give my sword; 
 for in thy presence none but traitors need to 
 fear. 
 
 King Ag.rippa: Brave soldier! Right nobly thou 
 hast done. Thou mayest tell me all and what- 
 ever the crime ,thou shall be spared thy life; 
 no one ,so brave as thou shall be slain by order 
 of the King 
 
 Julius: (Aside.) Curses on the luck! 
 
 Lysias: This wild crowd of madmen set upon me at 
 ;,he instigation of Julius, who for some cause de- 
 sired to kill me- As a man I protected myself; 
 
THE xVPOSTLE PAUL. 15 
 
 I am innocent of ilie charg-e of bla.^pli^my. 
 
 Tertuiius: Most Worthy King, to whom 1 have al- 
 ways b€€n loyal in times of war and in times' of 
 peace, I pray thee, that thou wouldest also hear 
 ' a few words from Julius. 
 
 King Agrippa: Thou mayesc have thy wish. 
 
 Julius: Most Worthy King, this Lrysia.s, a Christian, 
 folloiwer of Paul and a leader of the Nazarenea, 
 I apprehended in the act of conducting Lydia, 
 the fiar daughter of Tertuiius, to the hidden 
 catacomb of the Christians. Uipon further obser- 
 vation I discovered that he had caused her to 
 become a Christian, Knowing that Tertuiius knew 
 nothing abojt his daughter's new religion nor 
 the crirme of Ly.Biias, I determined to infonm him. 
 Livsias upon learning of my intentions contrived 
 to slay me but fortunately I was rescued just in 
 time by these, my faithful comrades. 
 
 Tertuiius: Didst thou say that Lydia, my daughter, 
 is a Christian? No; it can" not be true. 
 
 Julius: 'Ti.s true, sir. 
 
 TertjJIus: I will not believe it. Let Lydia be 
 brought forth. I will know the truth. What 
 hast thou to say, Lysias? 
 
 Lysias: 'Tis no affair of mine. 
 
 Tertuiius: Is it true? 
 
 Lysias: I have .said. 
 
 King Ag-rippa: Hast thou thus offended Tertuiius, 
 who doth lend to the king much money his cof- 
 fers to fill? Had I known this, I would not have 
 spared thy' fife. 
 
16 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Lysias: Forgive nie, if ! have wronged Tertiillus, 
 but I answer that 1 have not caused her to be a 
 Christian. 
 
 Terti'Mus: If thou hast not, who caused her to be- 
 come a Christian? 
 (Enter Lydia.) 
 
 Lysias: Let her speak for herself. 
 
 Tertullus: Lydia, my daughter, art thou a Christian? 
 
 Lydia: Father, thou hast from the time of my birth 
 reared me as a Pharisee. 
 
 Tertiilljs; Answer me, child; art thou a Christian? 
 
 Lydia: I can not be a Pharisee and also a Christian. 
 Didst thou rear me as a Pharisee or a Christian? 
 
 Tertullus: Answer me; I will not be evaded. I 
 must know the truth. If thou will not answer or 
 if thou art a Christian, I shall disown thee. 
 
 King Ag.rippa: The king shall decide the penalty. 
 Come, Lydia, answer thy father's question; for 
 if of a truth thy thoughts strive for expression, 
 speak, and leave the rest to me. 
 (In the background appear the soldiers with 
 Paul, who is in chains.) 
 
 Tertuilus: "Wilt thou answer? 
 
 Lydia: Oh, why doth thou ask me; I would gladly 
 answer, but — 
 
 Kinc; Agrippa: Who is that man wliom the soldiers 
 are leading into yon siiualid jail? 
 
 Festus" ^Tis Paul. 
 
 King Ag.rippa: Paul! Paul of Tarsus, dost thou 
 
 mean .■' 
 
 Festus: 'Tis even so; Paul of Tarsus. 
 
THE APOSTLE PATfL. 17 
 
 King Agrippa: Let him be bronglit forth. (Paul 
 
 com€s to the front of the stage.) Art thou Paul? 
 ..Paul: Aye, I am he and a servant of Him who 
 
 said that if thou be ashamed to own me before 
 
 men, T shall be ashamed to own you before my 
 
 Father. 
 Lydia: Oh, Fathe^, I can not conceal it longer; I 
 
 am a Christian. 
 Tertuilus: Away! Wretch! Harlot! Thou art no 
 
 longer la child of mine! Julius! Julius! kill her; 
 
 for I would rather see her dead than to live a 
 
 Christian.. 
 King Agrippa: Be calm, Tertuilus; thou canst not 
 
 disinherit thine only child. 
 Tertuilus: Julius! Julius! Kill her. (Julius 
 
 strikes at her with his sword. Lysias rushes at 
 
 him. ?^ydia takes from her bosom a sruall cross 
 
 and Julius upon seeing the cros-s falls dead.) 
 Tertuilus: By all the gods, I swear, this child is 
 
 possesed of devils. Look! From that cross 
 
 stream's a light whose potent influence did Julius 
 
 slay. Lydia, how camest thou possessed of such 
 
 power*^ 
 Lydia: On the account o fthe glad tidings which I 
 
 received ai our home in Thyatiria from this 
 
 ,self-same Paul. 
 King Agrippa: Come, let us leave this wretched 
 
 place. 
 Festus: What shall we do with the dead? 
 King Agrippa: Pear him far away soldiers. I must 
 
 go. Ye gods, what strange things happen here 
 
 of late. 
 
IS THE APOSTLE PAUL, 
 
 Paul: Noble King, haste not away; look to yonder 
 cross. There is power in the blood that was 
 3hed upon that cross. (To Tertullus): Thou 
 art a wicked father, but I pray thy sins be for- 
 given thee. (Bending over the body of Julius}: 
 Holy ti'ather, I pray thee that thou wouldst here 
 demonstrate thy power in the presence of all. 
 Rise Julius and sing praises to his holy name, 
 f Julius rises. The curtain falls slowly.) 
 
 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 Scene IL 
 
 |The Palace of the King. Before the curtain rises 
 the sweet strains of the ''Holy City" can be heard. 
 The music continues for sometime after the rising 
 of the curtain. Enters King Agrippa, who is clad 
 in his night clothes.) 
 
 King Agrippa: The mu?ic disturbs me. I am mis- 
 erable; monstrous dreams have driven me from 
 my soft, self-inviting couch. I came here to find 
 peace. Oh! why doesn't that music cease! 
 Hark! I henr footsteps. 'Tis Lucretia. Now to 
 conceal myself. (eH conceals himself. Enters 
 Lucretia.) 
 Lucretia: Hush, ye boisterous throbbings of my 
 coui. Let every sound be stilled! Ah! what 
 soul-istirring mrsic! Surely the angelic voices 
 of Heaven are wafted from the celestial portal 
 upon my mortal ears! Oh, if I only knew that 
 song, which like the effulgent sun, rising in 
 splendor above the eastern mountain tops dis- 
 eels all the impenetrable gloom from my troub- 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 19 
 
 lous breast! The sweet heavenly music oe.at»«*t 
 Well, 1 presume I'll go to work; for I fear I 
 shall soon beeome too religious. |She begins to 
 clean the room.) My, my, what drudgery! Oh! 
 lo'ily wish that i was something else! I am 
 nothing— -nothing but a servant and must drajj 
 on ever and anon, until I reach that iast stage 
 !ov/ardis which all humanity travel in uncertain 
 -^tepsj. jUnobserved by Lucretia, Simon, th« 
 Ethiopian, enters and hears a part of her solil- 
 oquy.) 
 Simon: Lucretia, I thought I would find you here. 
 You idle, disatisfied girl, why complain so 
 m uoh*^ We a e all in that divine crucible and 
 rr-ns'- and'^rgo tho meltiug process. We can only 
 c? what we're destined to be; 'tis needless for 
 i:s :o fret and fume. We must be cheerful and 
 obf^.dient to our masters — then, too, our condi- 
 tions could be much worse 
 Lucretia: Simon! Simon! You naughty boy! How 
 dn'.st thou come so suddenly into the presence 
 of a lady and proceed to chide her? 
 Simon: Think not that I mean to censure you, sweet 
 Lucretia; ofr I only intend to be of what servic-e 
 to you I can. Thou knowest that recently I 
 hav^ becomv3 a Christian and we Christians -have 
 share our mutual woes; as for my single self, I 
 desire to be cheerful, helpful anfl loving like 
 Christ. 
 Lucretia: Oh! Simon; please tell me about the 
 Christians; they are the most unassuming. Char, 
 it able and persecuted class of any people. W^hen 
 I was at Jerusalem, one day, I saw a boisterous 
 
20 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 crowd of p€ople, who like mad men, were busily 
 engag^^d in seeking all who called themselves 
 foJlowcrs of Christ. 
 
 Simon: T know but very little about the Christians. 
 I know that they are persecuted not only at 
 Jerusalem but even in other cities; yet persecu- 
 tions are nothing; for all v/ho contend for any 
 worthy thing in this world are pesecuted. I 
 hear some one coming. 'Tis Lydia, the fair 
 daughter of Tertullus. 
 
 Lucretia: I know her well; 'twas she whom the 
 wicked Te:tiillus desired to disinherit on the ac- 
 count of her religion. (Enters Lydia.)- 
 
 Lydia:. Good morning, Lucretia and Simon. What 
 new thing hast thou heard concerning the Apos- 
 tle Paul? 
 
 Simon: Nothing new or true. By secret command 
 of the queen, Paul is to be brought to the Palace 
 of the king. 
 
 King Agrippa: Paul, Paul; what manner of man is 
 this? I would that he had not appealed unto 
 Augustus. 
 
 Lucretia: I heard the voice of the king. 
 
 Lydia: .And so did I. 
 
 Sim.on: .1 wonder where is he; for I have obsei-ved 
 him lately and marked the thoughtful expression 
 upon his^ coimtenance. I wonder what weighs 
 so heavily upon his, mind? 
 
 Lucretia: .Affairs of the government I ppesume. 
 
 Lydia:. Nay: I can safely conjecture the cause oi 
 the king's troubles; desiring to set Paul free 
 and to not incur the ill will of my father who has 
 often loaned him money, he is troubled. I am 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. '^-*- 
 
 sure that this is tTi€ cause; for it was on tho 
 account of Paul that 1 became a Chiistiau and 
 when th€ Idn^g would not allow him to disinherit 
 me, Fa.th.er vowed that Paul should forfeit his 
 life. The king knowink this, dreads to ,send 
 Paul to Rome where wicked Nero cruelly hums 
 all Christians; nor does he desire to widen the 
 br-each between father and himself by letting 
 Paul ^o uniDunished. 
 
 Simon:. Let us forg>et the king's vexations and 
 Dear Lydia, will thou please sing u,s one of your 
 songs? 
 
 Lydia: .What shall 1 sing? 
 
 Simon: .1 know not the name of the song, but I 
 have heard thee hum it several times. 
 
 Lydia Oh! I know; ^tis '^ The Star of the Cast." 
 (She sings. The king comes from his hidin.j; 
 place at the completion of the solo and rushes 
 
 to Lydia.) 
 
 King Aqrippa: What iieavenly music! Dear Lydia, 
 please tell me something about this new reli- 
 gion, which like some dvead spell of witch'ery, 
 sweeps sllemiy and powerfully over the land. 
 
 Lydia: 'Tis nothing new; for if it were new it 
 would not be true. Thou hast heard of th^ 
 Me&'siah and we who are his followers are called 
 Christians. 
 
 King Aarippa: What incredible thing , is this. 
 Christ! The Nazarenel Can any gooy. thing 
 come out of Nazarelh? 
 
 Lydia: I fear thou art narrow and prejudice!-, O 
 King but wouldest thou know, that ihis same 
 lowly Nazarene was the expected Messiah: it 
 
22 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 was he who suffered and died that all men by his 
 divir^ example should have a right to life and 
 happiness' forever more. 
 
 Lucretia: Yet what relation is there between Christ 
 and the Christians? 
 
 Lydia: The same as the relation between brother 
 and sister; he is our elder brother and- without 
 him there would be no Christians. We Chris- 
 tian<5i, like CTarist, are moved by that isame al- 
 truistic spirit of love and unselfishness; it is our 
 duty to do what good we caji for all. 
 
 King Agirraap: Then why are you Christians perse- 
 cuted so? 
 
 Lydia: For doine- good, of course. We expect to be 
 pe'secuted for righteousness' sake: there are no 
 rewards without great efforts. 
 
 King Agrippa: Christ it was whom they crucified 
 foi blasiphemy. 
 
 Lydia: Aye; th-By crucified my Lord. The pierced 
 him in the side and out of that wounded side 
 came fovth blood and water from a heart that 
 was broken l)y love and ingratitude. 
 
 King Agrippa: And was that all? 
 
 Lydia: Know'st thou not these things, O King? 
 They parted hie raiment among them and the 
 soldiers cast lots for his vesture that the Scriip- 
 tures might be fulfilled. Nicodemus who first 
 came to Jeciis by night, brought a mixture of 
 myrrh and aloes; Joseph begged the body and 
 laid it in the sepulchre, but on the third day^ 
 in all glory and majesty he awoke from that 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 23 
 
 d-eath like .sluinb-er, ascended into Heaven and 
 now he sits at the right hand of him who rules 
 the universe. 
 
 Lucretia: Dost thou know more of the crucifixion? 
 Tell us of it. 
 
 Lydia: Aye, in a \asion once I saw it. I was pre- 
 sent at the crucifixion. The picture of the 
 bloody scene, that infinite chasm of darkness, 
 as it were rises vividly before me, my mind 
 traversing seas of blood, drawn from Immanuel's 
 veins halts upon the sacred brow of calvary 
 and I am again present at that awful trial. I 
 hear the boisterous din and the mighty sounds 
 of vast preparation which thunder o'er the still 
 mountain tops. I see the vast uproarous rabbI-3 
 of religious fanatics. I feel their hot breath 
 Hden with shouts of revenge and vociferous im- 
 precations. Crucify him! The Blasphemer! 
 The Infidel! Look! There he is! He is led 
 like a lamb dumb before his shearers, so he 
 opens not his mouth in rebuke; he only mur- 
 murs in a voice expressive of pity for their ig- 
 norance, ''P'ather, forgive them; for they know 
 not what they do." Now 1 am carried forward 
 helplessly by a mad, furious, raging, ignorant, 
 fanatic mass of surging humanity. At length, 1 
 have reached an open place. Look! The sol- 
 diers! Hov/ fiercely they look! They have a 
 man — the b]-^ssed Christ — but he resembles a 
 god. What an outrage! Behold the man! Here 
 they come with the cruel cross! Down they 
 throw the wicked timber! Oh! Horrors! The 
 soldiers roughly seizing him, place their sinful 
 
24 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 kH'c.es upon his tender, outstretclied arms and 
 into Ills sacred flosh drive the cruel nails while 
 the sounds of their hammers thunder mournfully 
 ^ven in the stie-eis of Jerusalem jin the hack- 
 ground appears a cross.) Oh! The cross! The 
 cross! There is something mysterious and fas- 
 cinating when I suivey that wondrous cross. 
 (The orchestra strikes up, ''Must Jesus Bear th3 
 Cross Alone?" Curtain fails slowly. Musi3 
 continuo3 fO'* sometime.) 
 
 •'THE APOSTLE PAUL." 
 Scene Ml. 
 
 (The Palace of the king. Enters Lucretia, who 
 
 proceed^, to •.lean the roojn.) 
 
 Lucretia: A pleasant morning' Since I have be- 
 come '< Clirisiiarj, life to me ha^ betv a 'xeritable 
 laughia.^ stream, llowing wiernlv ever cnwarl. 
 Oh! 'tis so sweet to he a Christian; to live 
 'ike Cnrist. (Enter Simon.) 
 
 Simon: Hovv! Fair Lucretia, so happy and so gay! 
 
 Luc-eti?: Aye, Simon: I have been considering 
 what joy there is in being a Christian; yet we 
 Doo"- creatures daie not let it be known. I am 
 striving to ])urst asunder these bonds. I want 
 10 e.0 forth into all the world. 
 
 Simon: Nay; gentle Lucreita; let us still be cheer^ 
 ful and obedi-C:nt. (Knocking is heard from 
 witliout.) Let us lru^:L in him. I hear some one 
 knocking upon the door. I must go. (Exit.) 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 25 
 
 Luc^etia: (Going to the dco-.) Simon is such a 
 strange boy! Come in, Sirs. (Opening the 
 door. Ent€'r F-estus and Tertullus.) 
 
 Festiis" We would see the king. G.o thou and in- 
 form him that we are here. (Exit Lucretia.) 
 Now Tertullus what think "ist thou of tlie Apo.stle 
 Paul? 
 
 Tertullus: He is dangerous and ought to be killed. 
 I Enter the king and his attendants.) 
 
 King Agrippa: Good morning most noble Festus 
 and TerLuUus. \VTiat urgent business brings 
 you out from your quiet studies so early? 
 
 Tertullus: Business of vast importance. 
 
 King Agriopa: Then be seated and let us discuss 
 the matter. 
 
 Te.rtullus: Thou see 'st how here of late, this vile 
 blasphem-eous heresy has been scattered o'er the 
 land by these idle Christian fools until now it is 
 so that on every highway and byway they as- 
 semble to persuade men to go after other gods. 
 Not long since, a madm.an, one Paul of Tarsus, 
 was arested in the temple. Him, I accused be 
 fore Governor Felix, in this, manner: ''Seeing 
 ihal by thee we enjoy great quietness and that 
 very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by 
 thy providence, we accept it always and in all 
 lOaces. Notwithstanding that I be not further 
 tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou would- 
 est hear of us of thy clemency a few words' 
 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow 
 and a mover of sedition among all the Jewa, 
 throughout all the world and a leader of the 
 sect of the Nazarenes; who also hath gone about 
 
26 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 to profane tbe templ-e; whom we took and would 
 have judged aocording to our law. But the chi-ef 
 captain, LyseaS; came upon us and with great 
 violence took him out of our hands. Command- 
 ing his accusers to come unto thee: by examing 
 of v/hom thyself mayest take knovv^ledge of all 
 those things. And tlie Jew.s assented, saying 
 these things were so. ' ' Then Paul spoke for him- 
 self; after Felix heard these things, 'he let Paul 
 go unpunished. Two years have passed since 
 then and Felix no longer i.s governor; since 
 thoti .lit governor, most noble Festus, in the 
 presence of the king to v/hom I have rendered 
 many gifts and loans of money, thou v/illl do 
 me a favor by delivering this man into our 
 hands. 
 Festus: Him I have tried He is a Roman anc^ 
 
 hath appealed to Caesar. 
 Tertiilius: Whai can we do then? The Jews faii; 
 
 vv^ould tortus him. 
 Festus; But no Roman citizen shall be tortued 
 
 while I am governor here. 
 
 King Agrippa: Who is this man Paul? 
 
 Festus: He is the man whom Felix left in bonds 
 
 and about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the 
 
 chief priest and elders of the Jev/s informed 
 
 me desiring to 'have judgment against him. TO 
 
 whcm I answered, it is not the manner of the 
 
 Romans to deliver anv man to die before that he 
 
 which 13 accused, have the accusers face to face and 
 
 have license to answer for himself the crime 
 
 laid against him. Therefore when they were 
 
 'X>me hither, without any delay on the morrow. 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 27 
 
 T .SQ+ on the judgment seat and commanded tb« 
 man to be brought forth. Against whom, when 
 the accusers stood up, they brought none sucti 
 accusation of such things as I supposed: but had 
 certain questions against him of their own .siuper- 
 stition and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom" 
 Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubt- 
 ed of such manner of questions, I asked him 
 whether he would go to Jerusalem aud there 
 be judged of these ma.tteTs. But when Paul had 
 appealed to be reserved unio the hearing of 
 Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I 
 might send him to Caesar. 
 
 King Agrippa: I shall hear the man myself. Com- 
 mand the soldiers to bring him to court this 
 morning, but first let him come to the palace;' 
 for Bernice would speak with him. 
 
 Festus: And so it shall be. Farewell, Gracious 
 King. Come; Tertudlus; let us go. 
 
 King Agrippa: Stay! Be not so chary with your 
 precious houi's. Remain with me until the morn- 
 ing m'^al is served. 
 
 Festus: I ha^ve alveady dined. 
 
 Tertullus: Sir, f am promised forth and must make 
 hasbe to meet the engagement. (Exit. Festus 
 and Tertnllus.) 
 
 King Agrippa: Then Farewell. Come Simon, (En- 
 ter Simon.) Sing for me. (Simon sing& 
 "Bethlehem."' At the completion of the solo 
 enter Bernice, Azalia and their attendants.) 
 
 Bernice: My Lord, did I keep you waiting long? 
 I shall ring for the servants and have the morn- 
 ing meal served at once. 
 
28 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 King A!?nppa: No, Madam;, both Fesitus and Ter- 
 tiilliis 'have be^n heve and. the hours glided by 
 iinperceived. (The morning meal is served by 
 the servants.) 
 
 Barnice: Simon, vill thou tell us something about 
 the wonderful land of Ethiopia. 
 
 Agalla: Oh! please do, Simon; for I've never heard 
 of Ethiopia. 
 
 Simon: If ye ^YOuld know who. I am or whence I 
 came, listen. In the far-off land of Algypt where 
 ?he mighty Nile Hows peacefully to the great 
 s-oa is a little village. There it was where thes-e 
 eyes of mine iirst sam the light of day. My fath- 
 er also was named Simon and many years be- 
 fore I v/as boin, he saw in the clear, blue Heav- 
 ens above, a wondrous star, which he and the 
 Avise men followed until it halted above the 
 place where the blessed Christ was born. Some 
 yeare afterwards as he lay thinking of the 
 strange vecessiuides of life, an angel of the Lord 
 appeared unto him and &.aid in the language of 
 r.he Ethiopians, ''The eros.'s is heavy, Simon; I 
 can not bear it Rise, Simon, thou noble ,son 
 of that same Hannibal, who like a proud eagle> 
 ewooped down from the mighty Alps into the 
 fertile plains of Italy, and get thee down into 
 the promised land; for none shall pity me.'* 
 The angel disappeared, but father v/as sore dis_ 
 tressed ; for he understood not the meaning of 
 the dream; yet on the same night, while he lay 
 restlessly upon his troubled couch, the angel 
 returned and said, ''Simon, why loiter here in 
 idle ease? The time is ripe; I must be offered! 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 29 
 
 np. R^^memoer the star of th-e East." Immed- 
 iately^ father set out upon his long pilgrimage. 
 When he ar.iv<;d at Jerusalem, the whole city 
 Avas in a great uproar. He followed the great 
 rabble out to the foot oi Calvary. Here Christ 
 hecame wea y under the weight cf the cruel 
 cross. Rushing through the crowd, my father 
 •exclaimed, ' ' The sins of the whole world are 
 too great for the blessed Saviour. I'll take a 
 part of your cross upon my broad, black shoul- 
 d'ers and learn of you." After the crucifixion 
 father retVirned and by and by I was born. In 
 ihe evening, oftinies he would tell me of the 
 crucifixion and how on his return he was bap- 
 f.zed by Phillip. The spirit of the Christ was 
 instilled within my very soul and I desired to 
 live in the blessed land of Canaan, where Jesus 
 lived. When I became old enough, I started on 
 my pilgrimage to this blessed, promised land 
 Upon my arrival ;it Jerusalem, the Jews seized 
 m.e, desiring to know why this skin of mine has 
 assumed an ebony hue. To whoom I answered 
 thus: ''I am black, but comely, O ye daughters, 
 of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the cur- 
 tain of Solomon. Look not upon me because I am 
 black, because the sun hath looked upon me; 
 my mother's children were angry with me; they 
 made me the keepers of the vineyards: but mine 
 own vineyard have I not kept." (Applaus'e.) 
 
 Bernice: That \yas just splendid, Simon. 
 
 Azalia: Thou would 'st make an excellent orator. 
 
30 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 King Agrippa: An interesting history. Beholdf 
 Paul of Tarsus. (Enter soldiers with Paul "who 
 is in chains.) Release the prisoner and retiro 
 to the outer court. (Exit soldiers.) 
 
 Bernice: And t»iou art that Christian Paul? 
 
 Pauir I am he. 
 
 Bernice: 'Twas I who sent for thee. I have heard 
 TP.any things concerning thy great knowledge and 
 fame; wherefore oft have I desired to converse 
 with thee. ^Learning that thou wert a wise man by 
 Gamaliel taught and also well informed after 
 Uie fasiiion of the times, I determined to beseech 
 thee to give up, the life which thou art leading 
 and beeome ray daughter's instructor. If thou 
 ^alt do this thou shall be well rewarded by the 
 king; but if thou goest to Rome, thou shall be 
 surely slain by cruel Nero. 
 
 Paul: Thine offer of life I can not accept, most 
 gracious Queen. 
 
 Agalia: Oh! Father, command him to Ije my in- 
 structor. 
 
 Bernice: Think well before you cast this offer so 
 lightly aside; it is a case of life or death with 
 thee. 
 
 Paul: Death to me is nothing. 
 
 King Agrippa: Paul, I would gladly release thee; 
 wilt thou not consent to remain with us; thy 
 life is at stake. 
 
 Paul: Most noble King, the honor I fully appreciate, 
 iHit 'tis impossible for me to accept the offer. 
 Now if God be for us who can be against us? 
 He that spare th not his own son, but delivered 
 him up for us all, how shall he not with him 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 31 
 
 fr^'ely give ns all things? Who shall lay any- 
 thing 10 the charge of God's elect? It is God 
 that justifieth. Who is he tliat condemneth? It 
 is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen 
 again, who is even a.t the right hand of God» 
 who also makelh intercessicn for us. Who shall 
 separare me from the love, of Christ? Shall 
 trib'ilation or distress, or persecution or famine, 
 or nakedness, or peril or sword? As It is writ- 
 ten, fo; thy pake we are killed all the day long;] 
 we are accounted as sOieep for the slaughter. 
 Nay in all these things we are more than con-, 
 querois, through him that loved us. For I am, 
 persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor an- 
 gels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 
 present, nor things to come, nor height, nor 
 depth, nor any otlier creature, shall he able to 
 3epiirad;e me from the love of God which is in 
 Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
 Bernice: He suffer a delusion. 
 
 King Agrippa: Come; let uis away to the court- 
 room. (Ex curtain.) 
 
 "THE APOSTLE PAUL." 
 
 Scene IV. 
 
 (The courtrorm. Enter King Agrippa and Fee- . 
 tus followed by their attendants.) 
 King Agrippa: At length, most noble Festus, w^ 
 
 are here. Let the prisoner coone fortb. 
 Festus. (To one of the attendants.) Go thou ana 
 
 bid the ^Idiers to bring the prisoner fortb. 
 
32 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 (Exit attendant. The orchestra plays softly.) 
 King Agrippa: Come, noble Festus and let us bo 
 seated that Tve may shake off the dull monotony 
 of these tiresome hours by a brilliant eonversa- 
 tioii. I hope the time shall s^oon come when 
 men will -gladly cease to be enemies for opinion's 
 sake. All th^ leaves en the Siame tree are not 
 alike; all the mighty rivers of the world flow 
 in different channels; then why should ail men 
 think alike? Lydia; the fair daughter of Ter- 
 tullus, came secretly to my palace early in thtt 
 morning to commune with my servants, who are 
 all secret followers' of this new religion. Con- 
 cealed within my own private chamber I heard 
 their simple conversation and all their talk was 
 of Christ and of Paul. Isow, noble Festus, T 
 want to throw oft' the anguish of my pent-up 
 feelings, which heave mightily In my once calm 
 , -anriiffled breast, like the turbulent waves of the 
 boisterous ,sea. Since Ludia aroused these wilrl 
 Ktorms of thought, in my tranquil bosom, I have 
 known no rest, but I have been disturbed great- 
 ly here of late by monstrous dreams, which, like 
 ugly iotrips from the infernal regions, have fright- 
 ened away the timid gods of slumber from my 
 soft, inviting couch Last night I dreamed and 
 in my dream saw a vast panorama spread out 
 before me; huge towering mountain peaks with 
 beau.tiful cataracts garlanded in ever blooming 
 flowers of good will towards all men; joyous 
 brooks along whose winding verdant banks were 
 sweet scented flowers of truth, love and virtue; 
 wide meadows waving in the life, giving grains 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 33 
 
 of brotherhood and kir.dneS'S. I thought that 
 the millennium of the Christians had come. I 
 saw this self same Paul, and like Pilate of old, 
 I found no fault in that just nian. 
 
 Festus: A v\'onderfiil dream! King! Afrer all, 
 1 am inclined to believe that it makes but a 
 very little difference what men believe, The 
 color never proves the fabric. I hate toj-ti^ • 
 injustice and persecution with every drop qI 
 pu^e Roman blood which flows through my] 
 veins. 
 
 King AgrijDpa: Yet we men are mere creatuies of 
 our circumstances and like a mighty river, whicli 
 turns neither to the right, nor left, must dra^ 
 on through life 's toilscme uneven journey, 
 through cloud and sunshine, o'er hill and dale 
 until we reach liiat last stage — the grave— a 
 whence no monal wanderer returns. 
 
 Festus: Aye; vre are but creatures of a moment 
 and this life may well be likened to the gloomy 
 abodes of a dark misty valley, surrcunded by 
 two snow-capped mountain peaks who rear their 
 hoary heads into the clouds of doubt and un- 
 certainty, but if the mind be immortal what 
 need have we to fear? Here comes Julius, whom 
 Paul did raise from the dead; perhaps we shall 
 hear something from him about the potent in- 
 fluence of this new religion, which, as a mighty 
 eagle, soars into the ethereal realms of sub-, 
 llmity. (Enter Julius.) 
 
 King A-.rlppa: Worthy .Julius, com^ hitlier and tell 
 us what thou hast done i;lnce Paul did raise 
 the<^. from the dead. 
 
34 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Julius: First to tlie holy city of Jenisialeni I jour- 
 neyed in sackcloth and ashes, feeling the weight 
 of my sins upon my very soul; then to the 
 seipulchre of the blessed Chnst I went; for in 
 my mad anguish, I thought 'twas my very spear 
 that pierced his sacred side. There in weaJ£ 
 tears 1 tried to throw off the burdens of my 
 grief. While thus in my penitence an angel 
 appeared unto me and with voice clear and pure 
 enquired, ' ' Whom seek ye here? ' ' And I said, 
 "'Lo the blessed Christ." In seem and pity so 
 generoii-sly mixed the angel replied, "He is not 
 here; he is risen, but thou mayest depart in 
 peace. ' (Prnter Bernice, Azalia, TertuUus, Ly- 
 dia. Lysi-as and attendants.) 
 
 Festus: All Hail the Queen! Room there! 
 
 King Agrippa: Thou hast come to witness the trial'' 
 
 Bernice: Aye, my Lord; I am interested in this 
 mans fate. He ought not be deluded by this 
 heresy of the Ciinstians. 
 
 FestLis: The heresy cf the Christians is a new re- 
 ligion 
 
 Bernice: Ah! Festus, thou doth amuse me: for 
 to me religion is only a trap set for fools. 
 
 King Agrippa: Liet tb^^ prisoner be led forth; I grow 
 weary of this conversation. (Enter soldiers -with 
 Paul who is in chains The orchestra continues 
 to play.) Releasse. 
 
 Festus: (Rising.) King Agrippa. and aii men which 
 are here present ^ith us, ye see this man about 
 whom ail th-o multitude of the Jews have dealt 
 '.\lth me. bcth here and ai JenisaJem, crying 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 35 
 
 that he ought not to live any longer. But when 
 1 found that he had committed nothicg worthy 
 of death, and that he himself hath appealed io 
 Augustus, I have determintd to send him. Of 
 whom I have no certain thing to write unto my 
 Lord. Wherefore I have brought him before yoii 
 and especially theo, King Agrippa, that, after 
 examination had, I might havo somewhat to 
 write. For it seemeth unreasonable to send n 
 prisoner and not withal to signify the crimes 
 laid against him. 
 
 Tertullus: If thou hast api>ealecl unto Cc-esar, un- 
 to Caesar thou should 'st go: for thou would'sL 
 make an excellent torch for the garden of Nero; 
 then thou would 'st no more blaspheme his holy 
 name, ncr persuade men to worship God con- 
 trary to the law. 
 
 King Agrippa: Thou art permitted to speak for thy- 
 self. 
 
 Paul: I think myself happy. King Agrippa, because 
 I shall answer for myself this day before thee, 
 touching all the things where of I am accused 
 of the Jews. Especially, because I know thee to 
 be expert in all customs and questions which are 
 among the lews; wherefore I beseech thee to 
 hear me patently. My manner of life, from my 
 youth which was at first among mine own na- 
 tion at Jerusalem, kn6w all the Jews, which 
 knew from the beginning, if they would testify 
 that after the most straightest sect of our rerg- 
 ion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and 
 am judged for the hope of the promise made of 
 God unto our fathers; unto which hope our 
 
36 THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 twelve tribes instantly s^erving God day and 
 Slight hope to come; for which hope'i: sake I 
 am accused of the Jews. Why should it be 
 thought a tiling incredible with you that God 
 should raise the dead? I verily thought witTs 
 myself that T ought to do many things Viontrary 
 lo th»e name of Jesus of Nazareth. Whioh things 
 I also did at Jerusalem and many of the saints 
 did I sliut up in prison, having received au. 
 thority from the chief priests: and when they 
 weie put to death I gave my voice against them. 
 And I punished them oft in every Fyuagogu-e 
 and compelled them to blaspheme and being ex- 
 loeedingly mad against them, I persecuted them 
 even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went 
 to Damascus with authority and commission 
 fioni tiie chief priest, at mid -day, O King, I saw 
 in the v/ay a ight from Heaven, above the 
 brightness of the sun, shinning round about me 
 and them that journeyed with me. 
 
 Bernice: A miracle! a miracle! I do not believo 
 in miracles. 
 
 Paul" And whon we were all fallen to earth, I 
 beard a voice speaking unto me and saying in 
 the Hebrew tongue, Saui, Saul, why persecutest 
 thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against 
 the pricks. And I paid, who art thou Lord? 
 And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutesr. 
 But arise, stand upon thy feet; for I have ap- 
 peared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee 
 a minister -and a witness both of these things 
 which thou hast seen and of those in whica 
 1 will appear unto thee; delivering ihee from 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 87 
 
 {he people nnd from the Grentiles unto wnom 
 now I send rhee: to oi>en their eyes and to turn 
 them from the power of Satan unlo God, that 
 They may receive forgiveness of sins and inher- 
 i*ance among them which are sanctifiid by faiih 
 which IS in me. ^Vhe eupon, O King, T was noi 
 disobedient tc the Heavenly vision: But shewed 
 firsl unto them at Damascus and at Jerusalem 
 and throughout all the coast of Judea, and then 
 to .be Gentiles; That they should repent and 
 turn to God and do works meet for repentance. 
 For tnese causes the Jews caught me in the 
 emple and v/ent al>out to kill me Having there- 
 fo;^ obtained heJiJ of God, I continue unto this 
 ^lay witnessing bo*h to small and grea^t, saying 
 none other things than tho^se which Moses and 
 the propuets did say .should come: that Christ 
 «5hould suffei and thiu he should be the fi first 
 that should rise from the dead and should shew 
 light to the people and to the Gentiles. 
 Festus: 'Loudly) Paul, tnou art beside thyself: 
 much learning doth make thee mad. (Behind 
 the sc'f^ne, ''Almost Pe shaded" is sung softly.) 
 Paul: 1 am not mad most noble P'estus, but spe&k 
 forth the words of tiuth and soberness; for tho 
 ^ing knoweth of these things before v/hom also 
 I si^eak freely; for I am pei-suacJi'd that none 
 v^f these things are hidden f om him; for this 
 thing was not done in a comer. King Agripp.-i, 
 belie vest thou the prophets? I know that thou 
 believe St. 
 King Agrippa: Almost Ihou i>ersuadest me to bo 
 a Chrlsiiun. 
 
•SS THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 Paul: 1 would to God, that not only thou but also 
 pll that hear me this day were both almost and 
 altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 
 King Agrippa: Well hast thou spoken, Paul. Julius 
 come foith. I h^ve determined to send this 
 man to Caesar; I shall gi\e thee charge of th3 
 voyage. To him, as beseems the rank ol a Ro- 
 man citizen, be kind, let him kave liberty an»t 
 forbid none of his acquaintance to minister o: 
 come unto him. 
 Julii.s: As a true Eoman soldier, 1 shall do my 
 
 duty. 
 King Agrippa: Thou shalt set sail tomorrow. (Exit, 
 .Tullus, Lysias, Teriullus. Soldiers and Paul; tlio 
 others stand moticnl s,s to sometime with their 
 gaze riveted uipon the vanishing form of Paul. 
 "Almost Persuaded" can be faintly heard. Af- 
 ter a pause Agrippa continues.) A wondrous 
 man! what dost tliou thinl? of him most excel- 
 lent Festus. 
 Festus: H^ is a verv learned man who protbably 
 suffers from some giiperabundance of knowledge 
 and subtle reasoning, but at any rate this man 
 doeth nothing worthy of death or of these bonds. 
 King Agrippa: And so indeed it is, good Festus; 
 this man might have been set at liberty if he 
 iiad not appeakd unto Caesar, but come; let U3 
 straightway go hence and make preparations ta 
 send him unto Augustus unto whom he has ap- 
 pealed, but m tne meantime let us pray fervent- 
 ly to this same Jesus to bestow upon us in this 
 life a knowledge cf his love and truth and \a 
 the life to come, wiier°ever it be peace and 
 
THE APOSTLE PAUL. 
 
 39 
 
 happiness for eveTnore (Exit Owncs. Behind 
 the scene burst fonh the glad refrain, '-All Hail 
 the Power of Jesus ' Xanne. ' ' The stage re- 
 mains vacanr for some lime. The curtain falls 
 slo'vly; the music continues for some time.) 
 
 The Fnd. 
 
NOV 13 1919 
 
 1879. STATE UNIVERSITY 1912. 
 
 College, Theological Seminary, Nor 
 mal School, Commercial Depart- 
 ment, Music Department, 
 College Preparatory, Do- 
 mestic Science, Do- 
 mestic Arts. 
 
 FIGHT DEPARTMENTS, 
 
 Thorough Course, 
 Degrees Offered 
 
 COMPETENT INSTRUCTORS. 
 
 Buildings with modern improve- 
 ments. A high moral tone so 
 essential to the best culture. 
 
 Opens in Sept. Closes in May. 
 
 For fart/ier information addre^is 
 
 President William T. Amiger, 
 
 722 W. Kentucky St., Lonisville, Ky. 
 
LIBRARY OF congress' 
 
 wm 
 
 016 103 592