I Appeal To Caesar!

“Quite simple actually,” Annas replies matter-of-factly. “I persuaded Pontius Pilate (our biggest obstacle) to leave Jerusalem for a month, go over to the seacoast and take a well-deserved rest at the military station at Caesarea. “I had already concluded that WE needed a plan of action, and I am sure that your ideas are certainly worthy of consideration.” ( “Out-foxed! The old man has done it again!” ) Caiaphas desperately steadies himself. ( “Nevertheless, I go boldly for my plan, sink or swim, the plan is good and will work!” ) The shrewd priest rallies his emotions; nervous energy actually makes him quite dynamic! With a strong voice, he quickly lays out three basics for his plan, starting slowly. “ First , we will develop a special elite Temple ‘police force’ that will empty the synagogues of all Jews that follow the dead man’s teachings. This group will answer to me, not the Sanhedrin.

“Of course, we may need to hire some paid

‘professionals’ to handle a few of the rebellious ones!”

The three associates speak up in unison: “ We can handle

that!”

(Annas cannot help smiling; he strokes his immaculate, silver-grey beard in anticipation, thinking to himself, “The boy and his helpers may just have something here; maybe Caiaphas does have guts!” )