An Example of How Gray operates:
The noonday’s sun dried the lips of the couple who had finally finished their journey from Rome to Corinth. The city was big enough, yet felt so tiny compared to the might of Rome. While taking in the sites and smells of a new city, Aquilla and Priscilla seek out shelter and reprieve from their travels. They notice a group of people sitting under the shade of a cedar tree. They surrounded a middle-aged man with a bald head and a beard that had a few streaks of Gray in it. There was something about this man, he seemed well educated, yet his station was not of a rich man. There was kindness and love in his eyes, yet fire seemed to spew out of his passionate words. They couple joined the throng. Completely lost in the teaching, they forgot their base needs and joined the group in a more intimated setting to hear:
“Grace and peace from God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ! I beg you, brothers and sisters. I beg you by the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you are not divided, but that you are united in the same mind and the same judgement. Chloe’s people have told me that you have been arguing about who to follow. Some are saying ‘Paul,’ or ‘Apollos,’ or ‘Cephas.’ Is Christ divided? Was I crucified for your sins?”
The couple looked at one another as they listened to the homily of Paul. Finally, an answer to their prayers. Rome had increasingly gotten more and more hostile to those seeking the true story of the resurrected Messiah. Emperor Claudius was consumed by the ancient religious ways of Rome, and nothing would stand in his way to see that institute back to its former glory. Priscilla witnessed firsthand an eastern magician dragged out of his house and beaten in the middle of the street by the Praetorian cohorts. The culmination of Claudius’ religious purge was the removal of Jews from the city.
Once Paul had finished, the couple stuck around to learn more from the teacher. They met the owners of the house, and instantly fell in love with one another. Lodging and food was provided as the intimate group shared stories. Aquilla reported the typical news of the capital, until Priscilla gave out a giggle, “Tell them what Ol’ Bumpy face did at the harbor!”
Aquilla, observing the confused looks of the group, said, “Bumpy face is Emporer Claudius…you know because of that tumor on his forehead.” The grouped shared a laugh as Aquilla proceeded, “I wonder how the sculptors will capture that majestic figure?” Once they calmed down, “So, an orca had wondered into the harbor and got caught on low tide. Claudius took this opportunity to hold an aquatic sport. He called the Senate, the Praetorian leaders, and others who had any political or social clout. They surrounded the captured creature to rain down a volley of spears. Once the creature was weekend and stuck on a sandbar, the mighty emporer waded out with a spear to deliver the final blow, as if he was a famed gladiator.”
The group grew quiet at the cruelty of Rome and its leadership, and how the emperors had slowly poisoned the mind of the people to enjoy the blood sport. It would only be a matter of time until the unsatiated belly of the beast would turn to Christians.
