P1471:5, 133:3.1
By the time they reached Corinth, Ganid was becoming very much interested
in the Jewish religion, and so it was not strange that, one day as they passed
the synagogue and saw the people going in, he requested Jesus to take him
to the service. That day they heard a learned rabbi discourse on the "Destiny
of Israel," and after the service they met one Crispus, the chief ruler of
this synagogue. Many times they went back to the synagogue services, but chiefly
to meet Crispus. Ganid grew to be very fond of Crispus, his wife, and their
family of five children. He much enjoyed observing how a Jew conducted his
family life.
P1471:6, 133:3.2
While Ganid studied family life, Jesus was teaching Crispus the better ways
of religious living. Jesus held more than twenty sessions with this forward-looking
Jew; and it is not surprising, years afterward, when Paul was preaching in
this very synagogue, and when the Jews had rejected his message and had voted
to forbid his further preaching in the synagogue, and when he then went to
the gentiles, that Crispus with his entire family embraced the new religion,
and that he became one of the chief supports of the Christian church which
Paul subsequently organized at Corinth.
P1472:1, 133:3.3
During the eighteen months Paul preached in Corinth, being later joined by
Silas and
Timothy, he met many others who had been taught by the "Jewish tutor
of the son of an Indian merchant."
P1472:2, 133:3.4
At Corinth they met people of every race hailing from three continents. Next
to Alexandria and Rome, it was the most cosmopolitan city of the Mediterranean
empire. There was much to attract one's attention in this city, and Ganid
never grew weary of visiting the citadel which stood almost two thousand feet
above the sea. He also spent a great deal of his spare time about the synagogue
and in the home of Crispus. He was at first shocked, and later on charmed,
by the status of woman in the Jewish home; it was a revelation to this young
Indian.
P1472:3, 133:3.5
Jesus and Ganid were often guests in another Jewish home, that of Justus,
a devout merchant, who lived alongside the synagogue. And many times, subsequently,
when the Apostle Paul sojourned in this home, did he listen to the recounting
of these visits with the Indian lad and his Jewish tutor, while both Paul
and Justus wondered whatever became of such a wise and brilliant Hebrew teacher.
P1472:4, 133:3.6
When in Rome, Ganid observed that Jesus refused to accompany them to the public
baths. Several times afterward the young man sought to induce Jesus further
to express himself in regard to the relations of the sexes. Though he would
answer the lad's questions, he never seemed disposed to discuss these subjects
at great length. One evening as they strolled about Corinth out near where
the wall of the citadel ran down to the sea, they were accosted by two public
women. Ganid had imbibed the idea, and rightly, that Jesus was a man of high
ideals, and that he abhorred everything which partook of uncleanness or savored
of evil; accordingly he spoke sharply to these women and rudely motioned them
away. When Jesus saw this, he said to Ganid: "You mean well, but you should
not presume thus to speak to the children of God, even though they chance
to be his erring children. Who are we that we should sit in judgment on these
women? Do you happen to know all of the circumstances which led them to resort
to such methods of obtaining a livelihood? Stop here with me while we talk
about these matters." The courtesans were astonished at what he said even
more than was Ganid.
P1472:5, 133:3.7
As they stood there in the moonlight, Jesus went on to say: "There lives within
every human mind a divine spirit, the gift of the Father in heaven. This good
spirit ever strives to lead us to God, to help us to find God and to know
God; but also within mortals there are many natural physical tendencies which
the Creator put there to serve the well-being of the individual and the race.
Now, oftentimes, men and women become confused in their efforts to understand
themselves and to grapple with the manifold difficulties of making a living
in a world so largely dominated by selfishness and sin. I perceive, Ganid,
that neither of these women is willfully wicked. I can tell by their faces
that they have experienced much sorrow; they have suffered much at the hands
of an apparently cruel fate; they have not intentionally chosen this sort
of life; they have, in discouragement bordering on despair, surrendered to
the pressure of the hour and accepted this distasteful means of obtaining
a livelihood as the best way out of a situation that to them appeared hopeless.
Ganid, some people are really wicked at heart; they deliberately choose to
do mean things, but, tell me, as you look into these now
tear-stained faces,
do you see anything bad or wicked?" And as Jesus paused for his reply, Ganid's
voice choked up as he stammered out his answer: "No, Teacher, I do not. And
I apologize for my rudeness to them -- I crave their forgiveness." Then said
Jesus: "And I bespeak for them that they have forgiven you as I speak for
my Father in heaven that he has forgiven them. Now all of you come with me
to a friend's house where we will seek refreshment and plan for the new and
better life ahead." Up to this time the amazed women had not uttered a word;
they looked at each other and silently followed as the men led the way.
P1473:1, 133:3.8
Imagine the surprise of Justus' wife when, at this late hour, Jesus appeared
with Ganid and these two strangers, saying: "You will forgive us for coming
at this hour, but Ganid and I desire a bite to eat, and we would share it
with these our new-found friends, who are also in need of nourishment; and
besides all this, we come to you with the thought that you will be interested
in counseling with us as to the best way to help these women get a new start
in life. They can tell you their story, but I surmise they have had much trouble,
and their very presence here in your house testifies how earnestly they crave
to know good people, and how willingly they will embrace the opportunity to
show all the world -- and even the angels of heaven -- what brave and noble
women they can become."
P1473:2, 133:3.9
When Martha, Justus' wife, had spread the food on the table, Jesus, taking
unexpected leave of them, said: "As it is getting late, and since the young
man's father will be awaiting us, we pray to be excused while we leave you
here together -- three women -- the beloved children of the Most High. And
I will pray for your spiritual guidance while you make plans for a new and
better life on earth and eternal life in the great beyond."
P1473:3, 133:3.10
Thus did Jesus and Ganid take leave of the women. So far the two courtesans
had said nothing; likewise was Ganid speechless. And for a few moments so
was Martha, but presently she rose to the occasion and did everything for
these strangers that Jesus had hoped for. The elder of these two women died
a short time thereafter, with bright hopes of eternal survival, and the younger
woman worked at Justus' place of business and later became a lifelong member
of the first Christian church in Corinth.
P1473:4, 133:3.11
Several times in the home of Crispus, Jesus and Ganid met one
Gaius, who subsequently
became a loyal supporter of Paul. During these two months in Corinth they
held intimate conversations with scores of worth-while individuals, and as
a result of all these apparently casual contacts more than half of the individuals
so affected became members of the subsequent Christian community.
P1473:5, 133:3.12
When Paul first went to Corinth, he had not intended to make a prolonged visit.
But he did not know how well the Jewish tutor had prepared the way for his
labors. And further, he discovered that great interest had already been aroused
by Aquila and
Priscilla, Aquila being one of the Cynics with whom Jesus had
come in contact when in Rome. This couple were Jewish refugees from Rome,
and they quickly embraced Paul's teachings. He lived with them and worked
with them, for they were also
tentmakers. It was because of these circumstances
that Paul prolonged his stay in Corinth.