The Chief Centurion: A Soldier for Rome

By Patrick D. Rivette

The Chief Centurion is an action packed novel about a First Century Roman Centurion named Claudius Lysias who makes his living in one of the hardest professions in the history of the world, that of a Roman soldier. You will march with him as he joins the Roman Army and does his basic training in Jerusalem before being posted to his first assignment in the remote village of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. There he comes in contact with the individual who will divide history between BC and AD, Jesus of Nazareth. Next you will travel with him as he sails to Gaul (modern day France), rises to the rank of centurion, and leads his men into battle against the Celts when Rome invades Britain in AD 43. He serves in the Second Legion Augusta, commanded by the future Emperor Vespasian and participates in all the major battles of that illustrious legion.

Finally, you will travel with him back to Jerusalem in the twilight of his army career to become the Chief Centurion of the Fortress Antonia. There he falls in love with a beautiful woman, puts down a rebellion led by "The Egyptian," and is called upon to rescue the Apostle Paul from an angry mob. His life will never be the same!

You will feel the weight of the armor and the sweat pouring off his body as he undergoes the rigors of Roman Army training and the daily grind of a soldier as he marches over the dusty hills of Judea. You will go with him into battle against Germans, Britons, and Jews as he fights those enemies of Rome. You will grieve with him as his only real friend in life dies in battle and his wife and children are killed by a plague. Finally, in the twilight of his army career, you will watch him as he falls in love again and tries to learn just what it means to be a Christian in first century Judea.

The book contains real people in history that we know about from the Bible and the writers of ancient history such as Josephus, and Tacitus. Men like Pontius Pilate, Titus Vespasian, Procurator Felix, and the Apostle Paul. These men come alive and will leap off the pages as you follow Centurion Lysias from one adventure to another.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 20, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462814312

Patrick D. Rivette

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Patrick D. Rivette holds a BS from West Point and an MBA the University of Georgia. He served as an U.S. Army Infantry officer for twenty-one years and currently teaches high school in Evans, Georgia. He and his wife, Miriam, are active at West Acres Baptist Church where he is the Chairman of the Deacon Committee, Men’s Bible study leader, choir member, and foreign missions leader. They have been married since 1972 and have three children, Vanessa, Daniel and Adam. Colonel Rivette has always been an avid student of the Bible and military history.

Book preview

WHAT OTHERS ARE

SAYING ABOUT

THE CHIEF CENTURION:

"THE CHIEF CENTURION is a great story with plenty of action, suspense, and yes, romance. It’s in the genre of Ben Hur but much more solidly rooted in historical fact. You’ll recognize biblical and historical characters you meet in these pages, but you’ll find them fleshed out as believable people you come to really care about. A good read!"

Robertson McQuilken, former president of Columbia International University and author of Life in the Spirit, A Promise Kept, and others.

"I am grateful to be able to recommend The Chief Centurion. It is a story that reminds us of the turmoil, conflicts, and changes that took place in the first century when people encountered the person of Jesus Christ. Fascinating, informative, and enjoyable reading."

Bill Rickets, President of the Georgia Baptist Convention and Pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia

THE CHIEF

CENTURION

A Soldier for Rome

PATRICK D. RIVETTE

Copyright © 2001 by Patrick D. Rivette.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

All Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973,1978,1984 by International Bible Society. (Except those noted as The King James Version (KJV)). Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishing.

The cover of the book is a painting entitled S.P.Q.R (For the people of Rome) by permission of Chris Collingwood/Cranston Fine Arts, www.chriscollingwood.com. It depicts a Legionary, a Centurion and a Cornucen trumpeter of Legion II Augusta.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

Contents

Acknowledgements

Forward

Prologue

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

Appendix A

Appendix B

LIST OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

AND MAPS

1. Photograph of the Jewish Temple and Fortress Antonia—

Part One

(Photo by the author)

2. Photograph of Fortress Antonia—Chapter Two

(Photo by the author)

3. Map of Judaea—Chapter Five

4. Map of Caesarea—Chapter Eight

5. Map of the Roman Empire—Chapter Nine

6. S.P.Q.R. by Chris Collingwood—Part Two

7. Map of Brittania and Gallia—Chapter Twelve

8. Battle of the Medway—Chapter Sixteen

9. Drawing of a Deceres—Part Three

10. Map of Jerusalem—Chapter Twenty-One

Dedication

This book is dedicated to My Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He has many names in the Bible. These are some of them found in the New International Version: Alpha and Omega, Ancient of Days, Anointed One, apostle and high priest, author and perfecter of our faith, author of life, blessed and only Ruler, Branch of the Lord, bread of life, bridegroom, chief cornerstone, Chief Shepherd, Christ Jesus my Lord, Christ of God, consolation of Israel, covenant for the people, crown of splendor, eternal life, Faithful and True, first to rise from the dead, firstborn from among the dead, firstborn over all creation, fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, friend of tax collectors and sinners, God of all the earth, god over all, God’s Son, great high priest, great Shepherd of the sheep, he who searches hearts and minds, head of every man, head of the body, the church, head over every power and authority, heir of all things, him who died and came to life again, his one and only son, Holy and Righteous One, Holy One of God, hope of Israel, horn of salvation, image of the invisible God, Emmanuel (God with us), indescribable gift, Jesus, Jesus Christ our Lord, Jesus Christ our Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, judge of the living and the dead, KING OF KINGS, Lamb of God, light for revelation to the Gentiles, light of life, light of men, light of the world, living bread that came down from heaven, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Lord of glory, LORD OF LORDS, Lord of peace, Lord of the harvest, Lord of the Sabbath, man of sorrows, Master, Mediator of a new covenant, merciful and faithful high priest, messenger of the covenant, Messiah, morning star, my friend, my intercessor, one who make men holy, one who speaks to the Father in our defense, one who will rule over the nations, our glorious, Lord Jesus Christ, Our only Sovereign and Lord, our Passover Lamb, our peace, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption, Physician, Prince and Savior, Prince of Peace, Prince of princes, Prince of the hosts, ransom for all men, refiner and purifier, resurrection and the life, righteous Judge, Righteous One, Rock of Ages, ruler of God’s creation, ruler of the world, ruler of the kings of the earth, Savior of the world, Shepherd and Overseer, of your souls, Son of Man, Son of the Blessed One, Son of the Living God, Son of the Most High God, source of eternal Salvation, sure foundation, Teacher, the Amen, the atoning sacrifice for our sins, the Beginning and the End, the bright Morning Star, the exact representation of his being, The First and the Last, the gate, the good shepherd, the Head, the last Adam, the life , the Living One, the living stone, the Lord Our Righteousness, the man form heaven, the man Jesus Christ, the most holy, the One and Only, the only god our Savior, the radiance of God’s glory, the rising of the sun, the stone the builders rejected, the testimony given in its proper time, the true light, the true vine, the truth, the way, the Word, true bread from heaven, wisdom from God, witness to the peoples, Wonderful Counselor, Word of God, Word of Life, your life, and your salvation. (Taken from the workbook Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, Appendix A)

Acknowledgements

I WOULD LIKE to thank the many people that helped me with this book. First is my precious and beautiful wife Miriam who read every chapter and gave me invaluable advice and encouragement. She is truly my better half, my soul mate, my lover, and my best friend. She has always been my greatest source of love and encouragement to help me fulfill my dream of publishing this novel.

I owe special thanks to Mrs. Debbie Daniels, a fellow teacher at Evans High School, who also read every chapter and helped me to write with semi-decent grammar. Additionally, I am indebted to Julian Olejniczak, the editor of Assembly magazine for his comments on the first 10 chapters.

I am especially indebted to Mr. Robertson McQuilken, former president of Columbia International University, author, and missionary. His kindness and willingness to look over my manuscript gave me boundless encouragement to see the project through to completion in spite of the tremendous obstacles to first time authors in the publishing business. Thank you sir!

Finally, I want to thank my pastor, Larry Harmon of West Acres Baptist Church in Evans GA, and Chris Norris, my music minister. Also my former pastor Bill Ricketts of Prince Avenue Baptist in Athens, GA, Mr. Eddie Senter, and Mrs. Debbie Verdell who all graciously agreed to read my book and provide me their input.

When we preach the historic facts of the life and death of Our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacramental, God uses them on the ground of His Redemption to create in those who listen that which is not created otherwise. (Oswald Chambers, p314, My Utmost for His Highest (Sacramental Service November 9th), Barbour Books)

Forward

THIS IS A novel about Centurion Claudius Lysias of the Roman Army. He is a real man that served in the Roman Army during the First Century AD in the Province of Judaea (Judea). What we know of him is found in the Holy Bible in the twenty-first through the twenty-third chapters of the book of Acts. Everything about Centurion Lysias in this book that does not come from those chapters is fiction. There are many other characters in the book whom are real people and the historical events portrayed are true, but their encounter with principal character, Claudius Lysias, is pure invention on my part. I have tried to write a story that is possible to have happened to this man.

Many of the characters that you will meet in the book are real people that we know lived during this time period. For example we know about Pontius Pilate from the Holy Bible, from the writings of the Jewish Historian Josephus, and from archeological evidence uncovered in the ancient city of Caesarea. We know about the woman at the well in Samaria, the centurion in Capernaum, the tax collector Levi (or Matthew), and the Apostle Paul from the Holy Bible also. We know about the High Priest Ananias and the Procurator Felix from the Bible and Josephus.

Other individuals come from purely secular records such as the Legate and future emperor Titus Vespasian, Consul Aulus Plautius, Julius Civilus, and the Emperor Claudius. These too, are real people who existed and participated in the invasion of Brittania (Britain) that is recounted in part two of this book.

My goal has been to tell a story of Centurion Lysias that is totally accurate in the details that we do know of him from the book of Acts and is totally possible in the actual course of historical events. I know that there are historical inaccuracies. For example, we believe that Felix served as procurator in Judaea from 53 to 58 AD and in the book he is not posted there until AD 56. I did that to make less time to account for before the arrival of Paul which we believe to be 56 AD. Also I have no knowledge of him ever being in Britain at all. If there are other inaccuracies that I am not aware of, I apologize. However, this is not a history or a biography; it is a novel.

I hope that you, the reader, can put yourself in the sandals of Claudius and experience the sights, sounds, and feelings that he experiences as he marches down the dusty roads of Galilee and Britain. I want you to be able to see the magnificent temple in Jerusalem and the beautiful landscape near the Sea of Galilee. I hope that you can visualize the people and noise in the busy streets of Jerusalem and smell the burnt flesh as it rises from the holy alter of the temple. That you can stand in the dusty streets of Capernaum and gaze into the eyes of Jesus as he talks to the Roman Commander of the town and marvels at the centurion’s faith. I hope that you can sense the sickening fear that grips Claudius as he prepares to go into battle with a fierce foe and feel the pain of losing his closest friend in the world. I hope you can gaze into the eyes of Miriam and feel the ache of desire and love that Claudius feels for her. More importantly, I hope that you can put yourself in the mind of Claudius as he struggles with the concept of who God is and what his relationship with Him should be. It is a struggle that many men and women throughout history have had to deal with and one that maybe even you have experienced.

I have chosen to begin and end each chapter with Scripture so that you may look for yourself in the Bible to see where I have taken the story of God’s message to us, His children. In those chapters that do not relate directly to the Bible, I have included Scripture that encourages or teaches a lesson to us about the Creator of the Universe. That is what is so exciting every time we pick up the Bible. God’s Word has relevance to everything we do in life and has something we can apply to our daily lives. The Bible contains stories of encouragement, hope, despair, life, death, and every possible emotion. The lives of real people with their strengths and flaws laid bare for us all to see and learn from. We all grapple with the same problems that the people of the Bible struggled with and we can learn from their victories and their defeats.

Many of us face the same challenges that Claudius encounters and although we have not been Roman soldiers and had to make our living on the battlefields of the world, we have had our own battles to fight and our own struggles in life. My prayer is that as you read this book, about a real person who had the privilege of meeting the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem and rescuing him from a mob, that you too will examine your relationship with God and make a decision to know and serve Him.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12)

Prologue

GAUL, AD 43

SOUND THE TRUMPET call to prepare for battle! shouts the cohort commander as the soldier’s stare in disbelief at the hordes of barbarians streaming down the hill in their direction. Momentarily, the soldiers hesitate, and then the hours they have spent on formation drills come to mind and they begin to react to the orders of their commander.

Quickly the Roman soldiers from the third cohort of the Second Legion Augusta form the unit for battle as the enemy approaches within javelin range. The cohort commander shouts encouragement to his men as he rapidly tries to think of how he will get his unit out of the predicament that they have found themselves.

Curse the cavalry! he growls. Where was our warning? Why are those stupid horse soldiers never doing a proper job of scouting for the enemy? he continues as he grabs Centurion Lysias by the arm to give him instructions. There are too many enemy for us to hold them off for long, he shouts to be heard above the ear-piercing battle cries of the barbarians. "Centurion Lysias, you are to form the rear guard as we fall back toward that bridge we just crossed. If we can make it there you will hold this side of the bridge while the rest of us cross and cut the moorings to the bridge. At the proper signal I will recall your unit to the other side and we will drop the bridge into the river. Do you understand? he yells into Lysias’ ear.

Yes sir, I understand! shouts back the centurion. (I understand that my century is going to be sacrificed for the cohort if we can’t get across the bridge! he thinks to himself. He also knows that he has received his orders and this is no time to argue with his commander.)

Centurion Lysias must first concentrate on the battle at hand. He will worry about his actions at the bridge latter. Discharge javelins! he shouts above the noise of battle, and each man lets fly his javelin, slowing the enemy’s momentum down for several moments. That gives his men just enough time to draw their swords and meet the onslaught of the savage foe. A loud thud resounds along the entire line of soldiers as shield hits against shield and the onrushing enemy crashes against the battle formation of the Romans. Soldiers yell, curse, and thrust and slash with their swords as the melee continues unabated for a furious, but short, period of time. The Romans soldiers thrust at the exposed necks, throats, and arms of the enemy as they have been trained, and the Roman gladius, or short sword, does its irreparable damage to the attacking enemy’s front ranks.

The enemy’s initial assault is thwarted and they pull back to regroup and reform for another attack. The Roman trumpeter sounds the retreat and the legionnaires begin an orderly withdrawal back down the road in the opposite direction they had been marching. The light troops of the barbarians sling rocks and shoot arrows at the withdrawing Roman infantry but the main body of the enemy seems loathe to conduct another frontal assault. They appear to be waiting for additional support. That support soon arrives in the form of enemy cavalry thundering down the same road the Romans had just been moving up.

But the Romans have bought the time they need and already the first two centuries of the cohort are moving across the bridge. Centurion Lysias is forming his century in a semicircle at the far end to protect the main body as they cross and begin to dismantle the bridge. Steady men! he shouts as he moves up and down the line to encourage his soldiers. Sweat is pouring from every pore in his body and blood is trickling down his right leg from an open wound. We will hold this position until the bridge is ready to be brought down! he yells above the din. Pull the wounded back across the bridge now and protect your fellow soldiers on your right and left, he encourages. Centurion Lysias can see the enemy cavalry commander conferring with the enemy infantry leader and he knows that they will be coming soon. His mind is racing as he tries to analyze what his actions should be for the impending attack and how long it will be before they attack again.

He does not have long to wait. The barbarian horsemen are galloping in his direction now and he can see the enemy infantry jogging behind them. The cavalry force picks up speed and is now thundering down the road. Each man in the century can feel the road vibrate from the force of the pounding hooves that are bearing down on him. Their mouths are as dry as cotton and every muscle in their bodies is tense. When the enemy cavalry is within ten meters of the Romans the entire body of horsemen veers off to the right and let fly their arrows and light javelins. The sound of the missiles hitting the Romans’ wooden shields and iron helmets vibrate up and down the line. Close on the heels of the cavalry come the onrushing enemy infantry. Their screams are spine chilling and their fiercely painted faces and bodies make them look like the nightmare that they are for the Romans who face them.

Once again the clang of swords on metal helmets and wooden shields echo and re-echo all along the battle line. Men scream and shout as once again the Roman short sword does its grisly work and the enemy answers with his slashing broad swords and maces of all kinds. After a brief but brutal encounter, the enemy breaks contact to regroup and to carry off its wounded. On the other side of the bridge Centurion Lysias can hear the trumpet call signaling that he may now retreat to the other side. Taking advantage of the enemy withdrawal he issues his commands:

First squad stand fast! Optio Caleb, take the remainder of the century across the bridge. We will follow close behind you unless we are attacked again, he orders his second in command.

But sir, interrupts his junior officer. You will never get the rest of the men across if you don’t leave now! he reasons.

Centurion Lysias glares at his second in command with a look that can only be interpreted as ‘Do as you are ordered, soldier!’ and the optio gives the command to the remainder of the century.

Follow me! Everyone except first squad, cross the bridge. Let’s go! Now! he shouts.

There are now only eight Roman soldiers that hold the far side of the bridge but it looks as if they may be enough since the enemy has not yet noticed that so few stand in the way of them and the bridge. As Centurion Lysias is about to congratulate himself on his good fortune, a group of enemy soldiers notice the small number of Romans and begin the attack anew.

They are barely beaten back and there are now only four beleaguered Romans, including Centurion Lysias, left standing. Lysias knows that now the critical time has arrived for all to retreat and he gives the order.

Fall back men! Fall back to the other side of the bridge! he orders at the top of his lungs.

The men eagerly obey their centurion. They grab the men that are wounded and, as swiftly as they can, they cross the bridge as it begins to groan and come apart. They are so anxious to follow his last command that they do not notice that their commander has remained on the far side to fight alone enemy soldier who has rushed forward to contest their retreat.

The bridge groans again and planks begin to fall into the torrent of the river. The second in command momentarily starts to rush back across the bridge to rejoin his centurion but it is too late. The center-span of the bridge that the soldiers had weakened snaps and that entire section collapses into the water and is speedily swept downstream. The anguish in his soul rises above the noise of the crashing bridge as he and his fellow soldiers realize that their commander is all alone to face the enemy and they can not return to assist him.

Noooo! they all wail. Come back Centurion Lysias! Come back! But it is too late.

Centurion Lysias stands on the far bank facing the enemy and the sound of his men screaming for him resounds in his ears as he takes care of the enemy soldier with a shield smash to the face and a thrust of the sword in the soldiers’ stomach. Momentarily, the remainder of the enemy spies him there all alone and they let out a shout before starting their advance again toward this foolish, solitary soldier. Lysias is sweating profusely, in spite of the cool temperatures, and his mind is racing as he begins talking to himself.

Well I guess you’ve done it this time Lysias, he remarks out loud. Do you think you can play ‘Horatius at the bridge’ with these men and live to tell about it? he mumbles, as he recalls the Roman legend about Horatius defending the bridge across the Tiber River from the attacking Etruscans three centuries earlier. I guess everyone is across so there is not much more I can do here, he reasons as the enemy draws even closer.

Before the enemy can react, the centurion drops his shield and sword, turns around, and as he runs toward the water he unties his helmet strap and lets the helmet fall to the ground. When he reaches the bank he leaps into the water as javelins and arrows splash the water all around him. For several seconds he is under the water struggling with all his might to reach the surface.

Oh my God, he thinks, as he fights for the surface of the water. The weight of my mail armor is going to drown me before I can get any air!

Finally, after what seems an eternity, his head breaks the surface. His lungs explode to gulp in the air while at the same time a loud shout erupts from his men on the near shore! The enemy continues to throw spears and shoot arrows as he is swiftly swept downstream and, to their dismay, he is soon out of range.

He is exhausted and there is blood oozing from an arrow embedded in his upper left arm. He struggles to keep his head above water and he disappears beneath the current and reappears again and again as he tries to work his way across the fast moving river. His soldiers run along the bank of the river hoping against hope that he will make it. Finally, almost a kilometer down the river he is close enough to the river bank that two of his soldiers jump into the water to snatch their exhausted leader from a watery grave. They drag him up the bank as he mercifully passes out from exhaustion and the loss of blood.

Hours later, Centurion Lysias lies on the mat in his tent and stares at the leather ceiling. His head throbs and his arm is in intense pain. He has been a soldier in Caesar’s legions for thirteen years and this the first time he has been this badly wounded. His mind drifts back to his childhood and a smile crosses his lips as he recalls those sunny days in Judaea. It had been so much warmer in Jerusalem than the miserable climate in Gaul. Oh to be back in Jerusalem, he thinks. To be able, once again, to sit on the Mount of Olives and look down on the beautiful Jewish Temple and the Fortress Antonia. He tries to remember everything, but it was so long ago. It is so far away and was long ago, he thinks, as he drifts back to sleep under the influence of the drugs that the doctor gave him.

PART ONE

JUDAEA

AD 30

missing image file

MODEL OF THE FIRST CENTURY JEWISH TEMPLE AND

FORTRESS ANTONIA LOCATED ON THE GROUNDS OF

THE HOLY LAND HOTEL IN JERUSALEM, ISRAEL. (MODEL

BY PROFESSOR M.AVI-YONAH.)

1

JERUSALEM

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kills the prophets, and stone those that are sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chick under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37)

CLAUDIUS STANDS ON the Mount of Olives looking west toward the Jewish Temple and the walls surrounding Jerusalem. It is a beautiful sight as the sun sinks behind the city causing the gold on the temple to sparkle. The Fortress Antonia to the right of the temple is also impressive in the fading light. It towers over the temple, it’s four massive square towers in marked contrast to the white cylindrical columns of the Jewish Temple. Antonia is home to the Roman military garrison and had been built by Herod the Great to do exactly what the Romans use it for today: to keep a close watch over the Jewish Temple and its’ religious leaders, around which the life of Judaea revolves.

Antonia has been Claudius’ home for the seventeen years of his short life, and although it is not the best place for a boy to grow up, it is all he has ever known. His father, Markus Lysias, is a Roman Centurion and has been a soldier under Rome’s eagles for almost twenty-five years. His mother was Jewish and died in childbirth when he was ten. His brother and sister both died before the age of five. His father had taken another women as his common law wife, (Officially soldiers were forbidden to marry.) but she had left him for another soldier two years ago. His father has been bitter and melancholy ever since.

It isn’t often that Claudius can get away from his chores in the stable, but when he does, he loves to slip out of the gates and climb the hill called Olivet and look out over the city. It is good to get away from the noise of the crowded streets and the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem. Somehow the air seems so much cleaner without the smell of the animals and people that constantly fill the crowded, narrow alleyways. It is relaxing to sit in the shade of an olive tree and just daydream. Claudius dreams of being a soldier like his father and can imagine that he is leading an assault on the walls of Jerusalem. He can easily envision the catapults in action and the giant siege towers being rolled forward toward the walls by sweating, straining soldiers as defenders fire their own catapults and shower arrows and javelins down on the attackers. Claudius himself is at the top of the tower preparing to lead his soldiers across the ramp onto the walls and victory. The imaginary battle is always followed by a victory parade in Rome with Claudius in the lead chariot and the crowds showering him with flowers.

Of course, there is no need for a Roman assault on Jerusalem. The city is already under Roman dominion (thanks to the Roman General Pompey a century earlier), but it makes for a great daydream—perhaps to be fulfilled in another city and in another country that will need conquering by Rome someday. Claudius knows that he will follow his father into the army. There really aren’t many options for the son of a soldier. He can not see himself as a farmer or merchant, and besides, how will he fit into either the Roman or Jewish society? No, he will become