Courage matters.
For Antipas, a historical character at the end of the First Century, his decision was made when he was forced to declare "Caesar is lord and god." Or was it before that, when Miriam, Antipas's granddaughter asked him for permission to marry Anthony? Anthony's first moment of decision came when he decided to join the Roman army's Legion XXI, which was sent to Upper Germanica. Marcos, the chief council of the city of Pergamum had to say "Yes" or "No", when confronted with the healing of his daughter Florbella. Antipas had prayed for Florbella and she regained her speech after the family calamity several years before. And then there was Lydia-Naq, the high priestess of the Altar of Zeus. Lydia-Naq made her decision to destroy Antipas after he confounded her in a public debate.
This historical novel takes the reader through the streets of Pergamum, sitting with families, smelling the food, shouting along with the crowds at festivals, and leaning forward at the Amphitheater when Antipas is brought to trial for his faith. The novel explores the cultural and religious pressures against Christians at the end of the first century. This novel is the first in a series of seven books, each one linked to the one before it Antipas, an important figure at the end of the First Century, comes to life in this historical novel. His name appears at the very end of the New Testament. This book examines the historical city of Pergamum, with social and societal interactions between rich and poor, Romans, Greeks and Jews, slaves and free.
Antipas and his granddaughter Miriam have escaped Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD, thinking they are now safely established in the city of Pergamum, located in the Province of Asia Minor. Forces begin working against Antipas' business and his community. His opposition to Greek gods and goddesses bring priests and priestesses together in a plot to destroy this Jewish businessman. Lydia-Naq, the high priestess of the Altar of Zeus, begins to plot Antipas' downfall and she carries out her purposes in a deliberate series of actions. In celebration of the freedom of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, Antipas has been purchasing slaves at the annual slave auction and then giving them their freedom. This activity is a threat to slave owners.
Into his little community come several people. Marcos, a lawyer, and Marcella his wife find comfort in the healing of their daughter Florbella. A wounded Roman soldier carries scars from his years as a scout in Legion XXI in Upper Germanica; he has now been reassigned to prepare scouts for the coming war against Dacia (Romania). An important historical event shapes up as various strands are woven together: religious tension, the complexities of human nature, history, politics, intrigue, ethics, Jewish culture and history, early Christian, Roman, and Greek cultural elements, and transitioning cultural norms.
This book is the first in a series of seven historical novels. As Book One ends, the action moves from Pergamum to Sardis for the second book in the series: Heartbeats of Courage. Vivid descriptions in each of the seven novels take the reader along crowded city streets, shopping at stalls in the marketplace, and into the homes of the rich for meals. The entire saga introduces the reader to life in each of the seven cities of the Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. Anthony, the Roman soldier faces an impossible obstacle: Miriam's grandfather will not permit her to marry outside the bounds of his Jewish culture. Anthony, who has been consumed by his need for revenge after almost being killed in Upper Germanica, learns that walking in faith brings him into communities of humble people throughout the province of Asia Minor. Major themes in the novel include healing, forgiveness, religious tension between early Christians and Greek temples and gods, persecution by Roman Authorities, and Jewish traditions becoming incorporated into the new Christian faith.
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