Kingdom 06

Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times

Barabbas and his men (Ch.17) go over their attack plans and dream of their success. Meanwhile, Benjamin is also making plans--plans to expand his shop. Aertes is outraged (Ch.18) at Herod's sending Samantha back and plans to attack Herod. Meanwhile, John arrives in Tiberius and is told of Herod's adultery and bigamy. Preaching on the palace lawn, he confronts the king, who has him thrown into the dungeon, where he visits him (Ch.19) and taunts him asking why his God and Messiah hasn't rescued him. John thinks and begins to doubt whether Jesus is the Christ and so asks Herod to send his disciples to Jesus to ask him. Ch. 20 finds the two beggars again looking for a better spot and finding one where Jesus is speaking and healing. Timotheus seeing John's disciples pushing their way to the front, edges forward and hears their question and the answer as well as the strange words Jesus says about John. He wonders about the speaker's words and if he could be the messiah, but is again rebuked by Lucas.