Continued research for a historical novel: Peter and Paul
Could
there have been a high-level plot to destroy all early followers of Yeshûa’s
teaching? Particularly the apostles? If the answer is yes, then my historical
novel might turn out to be a historical murder/thriller novel.
It was
a question of business—of economics.
One
gold talent was worth approximately 27 silver talents. At 3000 shekels per
talent, that’s a lot of tithes (see Tithing,
essay #39, in Beyond Religion vol. II).
Who
would get the new tithes? How much would the Sanhedrin lose? We know how today’s politicians react to any
diminution of their income. IRS is on your doorstep in no time at all. The
Great Sanhedrin of Israel consisted of 71 members—that’s a lot of people to
support. And then there were the priesthood. A whole tribe of them. Add to it
all the other assemblies (each town had one) and you need a tax base. With the
new Christian sect siphoning off people, the Christians couldn’t have been
popular with the ruling classes. Somebody, somehow, had to protect the status
quo. What best way is there than to get rid of them altogether. Dead men don’t
pay taxes, but they provide a good example. Isn’t this what all the established
oligarchies did do in those days? Or later days. Now?
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