The House That Ananias Built

By Joseph Saints

Sometime in 36 AD, a group of riders were on their way to complete their mission. However, On the road to Damascus, they encountered a strange phenomena that blinded a Pharisee leading a mission of persecution. He received a vision from the supposed leader of this group that he is pursuing, who gave him instructions. Ananias, a devout follower of the Way, also received a vision that led him to this blinded but conflicted man from Tarsus, who immediately decided to convert.

However, another one of the riders, with a different, more sinister mission, was also blinded during the encounter. Except for the Pharisee, he and the rest have an altogether different purpose to find followers of this holy Way. Belonging to an ancient cult of killers and magic practitioners, he and his companions tried to force Ananias to perform another healing, but divine intervention prevented it. The cult was not totally destroyed, and the remaining members received secret information on how to become stronger, grow in numbers, and finally defeat the brothers of Ananias, who have now become their arch enemies.

Since then began a spiritual and physical battle, unknown and unnoticed by many, between the forces of good and evil. The battle persisted throughout the centuries between the House of Ananias, and the malevolent but deceptively called Guardians of Purity. After 1,962 years, fighting between the opposing forces is ready to come to an end, with the dwindling ranks of the House of Ananias making the last stand, coincidentally, on the road to Damascus, Virginia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Saints
• Release date: Feb 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463134405

Joseph Saints

I am an engineer with 10 years combined experience in network engineering, system administration, and project management with the telecoms and IT industry. I am a fan of fantasy and science fiction books and movies. I also enjoy Japanese mecha anime, superhero comic books and movies, and martial arts films.

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The House That Ananias Built

By Joseph Saints

Copyright 2019 Joseph Saints

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chapter 1

(Sometime between 36 AD)

Gallops. Dust swirling. Seven men on horseback.

They came from Jerusalem, and headed towards Damascus. At the lead is a pharisee carrying letters and arrest orders signed by the high priest. A few kilometers from Damascus, the group was suddenly hit by a bolt of light. The pharisee fell from his horse. The light continued to envelope the group. The rest of the men and their horses were immobilized.

The pharisee heard a voice of a man who talked to him and gave him instructions. But all the others heard was an unbearable high-pitched sound as if piercing their ears all the way through their brain. Unable to move their hands to cover their ears, their eyes welled up in tears. Then also suddenly, the light and sound were gone. All can move again, but the pharisee was now blind. And so was the last rider, their leader Rufus.

Chapter 2

Ananias hurriedly went to the street called Straight, looking for the house that belonged to a certain Judas. After he found it, and as he entered, he saw exactly what he was told. The blind man from Tarsus was slumped on the floor, praying, and clearly, in distress. He approached him and greeted him.

Saul of Tarsus? asked Ananias.

Are you Ananias?

How do you know my name?

"I received instructions from the Lord Jesus, and he said you will come to make me see again.

Brother Saul, peace be with you, and as he touched and prayed over him, something fell from Saul's eyes that looked like fish scales.

And the pharisee was able to see again. Ananias also poured water on Saul and baptized him in the name of the Lord. Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he understood.

From a small opening on the wall, one of the companion riders, Cultrus, observed all that happened, what Ananias did. He hurriedly crossed the street to where the rest of the riders were together, and reported all he saw.

Rufus was fuming mad. Not only were they not able to complete their mission of arresting these Followers of The Way, now, his supposed ally, the pharisee, has turned to join the other side. And he is still blind as a bat.

Follow the healer, and take him to me.

He will not come willingly, said Cultrus.

Bring with you the rest of the men, but leave one with me. Do what you must, but keep him alive so he can take away this blindness.

As Ananias was going back to his house, he felt someone following him, so he kept on walking. He knew some people are just waiting to arrest him and the brothers, so he decided not to go back to the house but walked further on, attempting to lose whoever it is following him. He felt more people following him every time he turned a corner. He reached a dead end, and stopped.

Peace to you, brothers, he said aloud even before turning to meet the nearest presence following him. As he turned around, he was surprised to see Cultrus standing just in front of him.

Brother, I know that you are a follower of the Way and a gifted healer. I saw how you took away the blindness of our brother Saul. You must come with me and heal another brother suffering the same fate. We are staying just across the house where you came from.

"You call Saul brother, but I see you are not a