P1480:6, 133:8.1
Antioch was the capital of the Roman province of Syria, and here the imperial
governor had his residence. Antioch had half a million inhabitants; it was
the third city of the empire in size and the first in wickedness and flagrant
immorality. Gonod had considerable business to transact; so Jesus and Ganid
were much by themselves. They visited everything about this polyglot city
except the grove of
Daphne. Gonod and Ganid visited this notorious shrine
of shame, but Jesus declined to accompany them. Such scenes were not so shocking
to Indians, but they were repellent to an idealistic Hebrew.
P1480:7, 133:8.2
Jesus became sober and reflective as he drew nearer Palestine and the end
of their journey. He visited with few people in Antioch; he seldom went about
in the city. After much questioning as to why his teacher manifested so little
interest in Antioch, Ganid finally induced Jesus to say: "This city is not
far from Palestine; maybe I shall come back here sometime."
P1481:1, 133:8.3
Ganid had a very interesting experience in Antioch. This young man had proved
himself an apt pupil and already had begun to make practical use of some of
Jesus' teachings. There was a certain Indian connected with his father's business
in Antioch who had become so unpleasant and disgruntled that his dismissal
had been considered. When Ganid heard this, he betook himself to his father's
place of business and held a long conference with his fellow
countryman. This
man felt he had been put at the wrong job. Ganid told him about the Father
in heaven and in many ways expanded his views of religion. But of all that
Ganid said, the quotation of a Hebrew proverb did the most good, and that
word of wisdom was: "Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do that with all your
might."
P1481:2, 133:8.4
After preparing their
luggage for the camel caravan, they passed on down to
Sidon and thence over to Damascus, and after three days they made ready for
the long trek across the desert sands.