Pillars of Barabbas by M.D. House Book Spotlight and Q&A!

The man they called Barabbas has come a long way from the wretched prisoner released by Pontius Pilate in lieu of Jesus of Nazareth. He and his wife Chanah are growing in regard among the leadership of Christ’s fledgling church, which is expanding and thriving.

But increasing Christian influence breeds jealousy among several Roman governors and senators. How will Emperor Nero react? Can the apostle Paul soothe the moody young ruler and help the valiant Roman saints continue to spread the Word?

The Parthian Empire also poses threats, including in Eastern Africa, where the former centurion Cornelius has become a prominent Christian leader. Will the Christians need to flee, or must they fight both the Romans and the Parthians?

In I Was Called Barabbas, author M.D. House offered his vision of Barabbas’ life by imagining what came after his momentous encounter with Jesus of Nazareth.

Pillars of Barabbas continues the story, finding the man they called Barabbas a long way from the wretched prisoner once released by Pontius Pilate in lieu of Jesus. He and his wife Chanah are growing in regard among the leadership of Christ’s fledgling church, which is expanding and thriving.

But increasing Christian influence breeds jealousy among several Roman governors and senators. How will Emperor Nero react? Can the apostle Paul soothe the moody young ruler? 

The Parthian Empire is also a problem, including in Africa, where the former centurion Cornelius has become a prominent Christian leader. Will the Christians be able to flee, or will they have to fight both the Romans and the Parthians?

Just in time for Easter, Pillars of Barabbas brings the early years of the church into vivid detail, following the saints who sacrificed everything to bring Christ’s message to the world.

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Author Q&A

Pillars of Barabbas

By M.D. House

1. Book 2 of the Barabbas series, Pillars of Barabbas, seeks to imagine how Barabbas, the prisoner released in exchange for Jesus, continued to progress after accepting Christ and joining himself to the body of the church. How did you come to visualize his path?

My original plans for Barabbas have evolved in surprising ways. To a large degree, I, too, have been led on a journey of discovering possibilities, seeing things I hadn’t contemplated before.

That evolution occurs as I study the history—including the New Testament of the Bible—and continually try to place myself in the full milieu of that time period, recognizing how similar those people were to us. Ideas come, and the links in the chain form. It is an incredible—and deeply fulfilling—process. The final product is astounding to me, because it’s not what I expected.

2. What research into the history and politics of the time did you do?

I’ve purchased a few books on ancient Rome, plus New and Old Testament commentaries, and there are many decent resources available online as well. I’ll never be accused of writing a dissertation on the history of the time period, and I realize that much of the scholarship isn’t perfectly harmonious, but it was good to study events and people from various angles, even when the accounts sometimes conflicted.

As we know, history is written by the victors. It is also often changed later by those in power who seek to cast a particular light on past events, groups of people, etc. in order to promote current political or social aims. With that in mind, I used what I consider the most reliable of the ancient sources—the New Testament—and built frameworks from there that made sense given some of the secular histories and our common human nature.

My wife and I also took a trip to Rome, and part of the reason was so that I could “feel the bones” of the Eternal City, particularly the ancient ruins. It was everything I had hoped for. When writing about Rome, I can now say that I’ve walked those streets and been able to imagine how Paul, Peter, and early church members felt as they walked the same cobbled roads, humbly carrying the greatest message the world has ever known.

3. Other significant Biblical figures make appearances in the novel. How did you choose them?

As in Book 1, the Apostle Paul is most prominent, but Peter and his brother Andrew also play significant roles in the story. Peter, of course, was the Lord’s chief apostle on the earth, and his leadership was instrumental in the growing strength of the new church. Barabbas interacts with Peter in both Jerusalem and Rome, while Andrew spends time in Eastern Africa with Cornelius, who reprises his role from Book 1, though he has retired from the Roman army to focus on building the kingdom of God on earth. I’ve really fallen in love with Cornelius and his family and wish I had as much courage and faith.

Mary the mother of Jesus is mentioned in Book 2, as she passes away, but her friend Joanna enters the scene, joining another strong and influential woman—Priscilla, wife of Aquila—in having a significant impact. It seemed fitting to cover Mary’s passing, which resulted in a full reunion with her son Jesus. Pondering that pulls on the heartstrings. Joanna had been a prominent supporter of Jesus during his mortal ministry, and it was likely she continued to be a bright light for the saints.

Luke is also present, both as Paul’s companion and on his own. What a faithful, loyal, and revered man Luke was! Paul treasured his companionship and advice, and he was a prolific and impactful writer. In what other ways was he a blessing during his time?

4. What significant non-Biblical historical figures appear in the story?

Nero plays the largest role, which makes sense given the focus on Rome. A lot has been written about Nero (full regal name—not birth name—Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) over the last two millennia, much of it conflicting. I’m sure that, like all of us, he was a complex individual with both good and bad traits. He was young—just sixteen—when the emperorship was thrust upon him, his mother reportedly having his adopted father, Emperor Claudius, poisoned.

What would a conversation between an apostle of Jesus Christ and the Emperor of Rome have looked like? I’m 100% convinced that at least one conversation took place. Paul was a well-known ‘prisoner’ who had appealed to the Emperor based on his status as a Roman citizen, and he spent significant time in Rome with little hindrance to his movements, building up the church and encouraging the saints. In my telling of the story, more than one conversation takes place, and those were fascinating to write.

Another historical figure I brought in was a known member of the Roman Senate from that time frame—Manius Acilius Aviola. There is no known historical record of him being a Christian, but in the story he is one, and he provides crucial support to Paul and the saints.

5. The primary theme from Book 1 was personal redemption. What is the primary theme of Book 2?

There are two primary themes in Book 2: Triumph through Adversity, which the burgeoning church of Christ surely experienced, and Every Soul is Precious, which lies at the heart of the Savior’s message in all ages of the world.

So, while the new church was growing in numbers and influence, while faith and attendant miracles were increasing, the purpose wasn’t to make God look good, or even powerful. The purpose was to save souls, individual souls with unlimited, eternal potential.

The primary difference between Christ and Satan is that Satan seeks to rule over us for his own glory, while Christ leads us along a path of self-mastery and knowledge that will bring us limitless, joyous glory—both personal and familial—and that is what Christ rejoices in.

6. Why do women play such a prominent role in church leadership as you have imagined it among the early Christian saints?

When Christ established his church, he spent at least forty days training his disciples how to administer it and help it grow. He most certainly would have made it crystal clear how valuable each and every person—male or female, regardless of perceivable physical attributes—was to the growth, function and purpose of the kingdom of God.

That seems obvious to most of us now, but most societies of the time were politically and economically dominated by males, even if those males were often influenced by mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc. Christ’s church was refreshingly different, with men and women both playing prominent roles in decision-making and execution. That was difficult for some people to accept, and persecutions arose from it, but God values all of his children equally, and all have valuable talents that we can only ignore at our peril.

7. What lessons can today’s readers take away from the lives of the early saints and the men and women who led them?

They were real people, facing real challenges with which each of us can identify. They were steeped in myriad entrenched traditions and doctrines, but their souls had come from the hallowed halls of heaven. Twinges of remembrance reverberated in their hearts when they heard the message of the gospel, when the great atoning sacrifice of the Savior was announced and explained to them.

Their spirits rejoiced, and yet the vicissitudes and temptations of mortality continued to challenge them. Satan continuously tried to beat them down and convince them it wasn’t worth getting back up and trying to be the kind of person Christ had shown them they could become. In their basic essence, our experiences are exactly the same.

8. Can Pillars of Barabbas help readers strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ?

I certainly hope so, yes. That was the intent. Pillars of Barabbas and I Was Called Barabbas were written with a scriptural foundation. The teachings of Christ are presented throughout, in the words and actions of the various characters, including well-known personalities like the Apostles Peter, Paul, and Andrew, the Centurion Cornelius, the ever-faithful Luke and Joanna, and the wise Aquila and Priscilla.

But beyond just reading about the teachings of Christ, we must commune with him and heed those teachings, continually. Redemption is a life-long process. It requires a tremendous amount of work and determination. It’s worth it, especially as we help each other and become unified in following our Savior. Unity in Christ is our true strength, because mortal ethnicity, skin color, economic station, etc. don’t matter a whit when it comes to accessing his promised blessings, both here and in the eternities.

9. What other projects are you working on?

I’ll soon start planning Book 3, the final book of the Barabbas series. One of the major events in that book will be the horrific Roman siege of Jerusalem by Titus, during and after which as much as 90% of the Jewish inhabitants were killed. Christ himself had foretold the event, but nobody had imagined something so drastically awful could happen. There’s more research to do on what happened to the Christians in Jerusalem. Many suggest they were warned to leave before the siege happened. Either way, the church was already building centers of influence elsewhere, particularly in Rome.

I’ve just started working again on the sequel to my first novel, which was soft sci-fi with a political and religious bent, titled Patriot Star. I had set that sequel aside several years ago after getting through about 60% of the first draft, but after recently re-reading it—and having received several requests—I’ve decided to pick it back up. Revealing the title would be a spoiler, so I won’t … yet.

For LDS Christians, I’m well along toward completing the first draft of a story about a man born in 70-80 BC and referred to in the Book of Mormon only as “the servant of Helaman” (which is also the working title). Political intrigues, questions of faith in Christ, and the horrible impacts of violent conflict will make this an intense ride over a short period of time (~ two years). Writing this story has been immensely enjoyable, similar to the journey Barabbas has been giving me.

It’s because I have so many projects going on now that I’ve stepped away from a lucrative business career. It’s a risk worth taking. I love telling these stories, and I firmly hope they aren’t just entertaining, but genuinely useful to people.

I’ll be sure to keep people updated on my projects through my website (www.mdhouselive.com) and my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LiteraryThunder). I’ll do a bit of blogging here and there as well.

10. Where can readers purchase a copy of Pillars of Barabbas?

Pillars of Barabbas can be purchased on Amazon in both print and ebook. It will soon be available in audiobook on the Amazon/Audible and iTunes platforms as well. (Note: the number of outlets may expand.)

Answers to Study Questions for Pillars of Barabbas

1. Were politics in the time of the early Christian saints as bad as politics now?

When compared to most people throughout the history of the world, we’re quite spoiled. We see powerful people behaving badly, including politicians spinning, lying, and throwing mud, and we think it could never have been so bad before. Yes, yes it has been, because people are people, and our basic makeup hasn’t changed in thousands of years.

Modern technology is just fancy wrapping paper. Placing too much power into too few hands has always led to disastrous results for countless millions of mostly innocent people. That was certainly true in the Roman Empire. Even though Roman leaders generally allowed conquered provinces to maintain their traditions and religions—a policy that yielded practical benefits—they could be cruel and capricious. Rule of Law and the Pax Romana were real, but the dynamics of human nature placed limits on them, just as they do today.

It’s important to note that the Roman Emperor was one of the most powerful positions the world has ever seen. He could snuff out a man’s life at a whim—within the limits of the politics always swirling about his own person—but no emperor ever obtained the power to restore life. It was tried. Mankind has long searched for the mystical powers of resurrection and immortality.

Only one man ever wielded that power, and he was Jesus Christ, the literal Son of God, who humbled himself before emperors and peasants alike to exercise power even greater than immortality—the propitiation of sins for all people who would humble themselves and follow him. Political “victories” are nothing compared to what the Lord of Lords did for us, voluntarily.

2. Why does the Lord always command his people to A) send out missionaries, and B) build temples/cathedrals, both at great expense and sacrifice?

Everything God does, or asks us to do, is to help his children overcome challenges, find happiness, and achieve real progress toward their eternal potential as his literal children, using their precious agency. Everything.

It logically follows, then, that those who accept the Lord’s call to follow him in spirit and in truth are always challenged to invite others and to provide places of holy sanctuary where additional strength from God’s spirit can be obtained.

As we learn to catch more glimpses of how God sees all of us, and as we gain a better, fuller understanding of our purpose in this life as it relates to the next, we will more joyously embrace proclaiming the gospel and erecting powerful, reverent houses of personal and communal worship … everywhere.

3. What were some of the challenges the apostles and other early church leaders faced in administering the rapidly growing, far-flung congregations and in building doctrinal maturity and faith?

Christ’s church was quite different from most of the religious and cultural traditions of the time. Superstition ran deep, as did cultural pride (as it often does today). But the gospel of Christ—his teachings, his life, his death, his resurrection, and his atonement for our sins—resonated so powerfully that many people worked up the courage to depart from their community and family traditions and follow this newly-proclaimed savior of the world.

As has always been the case, when a political, social, or religious movement grows significantly in numbers of adherents, it also grows in influence across a broad base of activities. Those in political power, particularly, are threatened by that influence, and they usually begin to take steps to blunt or shape it, using whatever means they dare employ.

After Saul (Paul) was converted, he preached in Damascus so effectively that he confounded the Jewish leaders there. In response, they conspired to kill him, and he escaped by being lowered in a basket over the city wall. Later, Paul and Barnabas convince many in Iconium (in modern-day central Turkey) of the doctrine of Christ, whereupon the Gentiles and unbelieving Jews planned to assault them, and they fled.

Beyond this, it’s critical to remember that 1) the church itself is made up of imperfect people, and 2) the doctrine of Christ doesn’t vary based on region, nationality, or language. It is the same everywhere. So, the apostles and other church leaders (including many prominent women, most of whom we know little about) were challenged with maintaining consistent order across a highly diverse group of people scattered over millions of square miles, and with making sure that the purity of the doctrine was maintained.

Our New Testament contains some amazing epistles that give us a window into their efforts in this regard, but they would have written thousands of such epistles. They couldn’t stream a video message live to every member of the church. They couldn’t send blast emails or text messages. They couldn’t publish specific instructions online in multiple languages that was easily, instantly accessible. It was hard work, and they did their very best.

4. How did Christianity spread and grow so quickly in a world dominated by powerful ancient traditions?

This is fascinating to think about. I remember reading one historian’s estimate that by about 60 AD, there were probably 3,000 – 6,000 Christians in the world. Nonsense. Church membership exploded after Christ had fulfilled his primary mission, and the world had never seen anything like it.

Think about these two factors: First, after his resurrection, Christ appeared to hundreds of the saints, and he counseled with many of them for at least forty days. In person. That’s incredible to contemplate. Were they just having dinner parties? No. He was instructing his apostles and others how they should administer his new church and spread the gospel around the world; Second, he then sent his fully trained apostles everywhere, at great sacrifice, to reach as many people as quickly as possible … and they carried the Spirit with them wherever they went.

It’s no wonder that Christianity exploded, and that people like the Apostle Paul emerged—often miraculously—to lead that charge. There were challenges and setbacks, yes, and the Lord wasn’t going to do everything for them or restrict people’s agency, for that would run counter to the perfect plan for our growth and happiness, but miracles continued at a pace we probably don’t fully realize.

One of the early centers of strength for the church became Rome, the hub of the Roman Empire. Paul commended the Roman saints for their strength and example, which he said was well-known throughout the church. He visited them at least twice, and he may have died there. Eventually, the center of the church shifted from Jerusalem (the horrific siege by Titus being a major impetus) and seems to have settled largely on Rome.

Someday we’ll have all the lost records of that era (2,000 years ago is a long time), and what an amazing treasure trove of discovery that will be!

5. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Roman empire, and where do we see those same things today?

The original Roman Republic was a marvel in many ways. It was also a valuable laboratory for self-governance on a large scale (which the American Founders and many others studied deeply). However, the success of the Republic created incredible temptations for some of the most ambitious Romans to consolidate and control its growing power and influence. It eventually gave way in about 30 BC to the Roman Empire, which tried to keep some of the vestiges of democratic republicanism but became more and more a true totalitarian oligarchy.

The primary weakness of any totalitarian state is the massive concentration of power among a few people. The natural consequences, driven by human nature, are devastating, both for those holding the power and those who become innocent victims of its unrighteous exercise. The constant and often violent struggles for power at the top of that superstructure are a vast playground for Satan and his angels, as lust for power overwhelms natural instincts of fairness and compassion. The adage remains true: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Christ’s apostles were cognizant of this. There’s no better reflection than Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

How much power has been concentrated among small groups of people around the world today, be it in the United States, the constantly migrating “capital” of the European Union, China, or the United Nations? Are we seeing the effects of that concentration of power? How much are we not seeing as those “leaders” exert increasing control over our fountains of information? How far have we strayed from the concepts and ideals of the Roman Republic and become like the Roman Empire?

One final but critical thought. The morality and “goodness” of the people is as important as that of their leaders, and in fact they often reflect each other. One of the primary reasons Rome fell is that the people of the Roman Empire became so morally weak and tainted. Infidelity in marriage, dishonesty in foundational human interactions, fanatical pursuit of physical pleasures, and gross selfishness were part of that sad picture. How dissimilar are we today? Are there enough good people left for God to intervene on our behalf? Thankfully, I’m convinced the answer to that is still “yes,” but we can’t let up; we must keep working to build his kingdom, both in ourselves and in those around us.

6. Why doesn’t Christ intervene for his faithful saints more often? Or does he, and we just fail to understand it?

When I eventually pass from this life, I’m sure I will be amazed to see all the things the Lord did to help me that I failed to see … and that in some cases I failed to take advantage of. I’m trying to do better, to see and realize more, but I know I still fall far short.

What I think I do understand is that we are eternal beings with divine heritage, and thereby incredibly powerful if we are able by our own choices to learn and grow into our potential. God’s love is his most important gift, but second to that is our agency, for without it, we can’t become anything worthwhile or fulfilling, or be truly happy.

So, the answer to the age-old question about why God allows us to suffer remains the same: he loves us, he respects us, he sees the long view, and he grants us freedom to succeed or fail, helping us as much as he can in his wisdom. He is the most amazing parent I can possibly imagine.

7. How are our day-to-day interactions with people and events similar to those of ancient peoples, despite the differences in technology?

Humans can only achieve happiness in families and communities, never in utter isolation. We are social beings, and we also exist on a planet that doesn’t yield its bounties easily. Faced with the reality that we must interact and cooperate with each other not only to survive but to thrive, we enter into myriad relationships and obligations that allow us opportunities to help—or hurt—each other.

The choice, of course, is always ours. The two primary similarities between us and our ancestors, both of them captured in Acts 17:28, are that A) we are all children of the same God, created in his likeness and image, and B) we are all free agents, our agency being granted by God himself. We “live, and move, and have our being” because of our inherent desire to be free, God’s eternal plan for our happiness and progress, and his grace.

Technology provides different channels by which we can interact, and the opportunity to potentially connect with more people, but we’re still mortals trying to survive and thrive together amid all the same basic challenges and temptations that have existed from the beginning. Every interaction is an opportunity, and every interaction is a risk, just as it always has been.

8. How much do we really know about things that happened 2,000 years ago? How much history has been lost? How much history has been destroyed, and why was it destroyed?

Our body of history is constantly evolving as A) new source documents are discovered, and B) new interpretations are asserted. After 2,000 years of this academic process, which is tainted by politics, prejudices, and even whimsical desires, we lose a lot of the clarity and consistency necessary to see a complete and accurate picture.

Physical degradation of materials, constant human interference, and both natural and human-caused calamities have also contributed to the loss of important source records that could greatly illuminate our view of the distant past.

So we do our best, not only to understand history, but to learn from it. A large helping of common sense, coupled with humble introspection, helps us to gain valuable, useful perspectives, even when historical records and interpretations are conflicting.

Barabbas, Early Church Leaders Brought to Life

in Sequel by M.D. House

Christians around the world are looking ahead to the upcoming Lenten season and the celebration of Easter. It’s a time of reflection and spiritual preparation. What better story to contemplate than the lives of the early church leaders, whose sacrifices can help bring the duties God expects of all Christians into focus?

In last year’s novel I Was Called Barabbas, M.D. House imagined the life Barabbas went on to live after being spared his sentence of death in exchange for Jesus Christ. He showed that Barabbas, like all of us, sought a path of personal redemption, imperfectly.

Now, House continues the story of Barabbas’ life in the sequel, Pillars of Barabbas (March 2021), which follows him after he accepted Christ and joined himself to the body of the church. 

The new novel brings the lives of many of the first saints into vivid detail, including the apostles Paul, Peter and Luke, as Barabbas works with them to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

About the novel, House says, “[The early church leaders] were real people, facing real challenges with which each of us can identify. Their spirits rejoiced when the great atoning sacrifice of the Savior was announced and explained to them, and yet the temptations of mortality continued to challenge them. Satan continuously tried to beat them down and convince them it wasn’t worth getting back up and trying to be the kind of person Christ had shown them they could become. In their basic essence, our experiences are exactly the same.”

After completing historical research into the Roman Empire, House crafted a novel that works to give readers a sense of the world the early saints inhabited as they made their way through Rome and interacted with historical figures like Emperor Nero. As in the first book, several notable historical figures and events are woven into Barabbas’ story, such as Publius, Cornelius, and the Great Fire of Rome.

Available for interviews, House can answer questions such as:

• What lessons can today’s readers take away from the lives of the early saints and the men and women who led them?

• Why do women play such a prominent role in church leadership as you have imagined it among the early Christian saints?

• What were some of the challenges the apostles and other early church leaders faced?

• Can Pillars of Barabbas help readers strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.D. HOUSE is the author of Pillars of Barabbas, as well as the first book in the Barabbas series, I Was Called Barabbas, and the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star. Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, Michael lives in Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren. Learn more about Michael and his work at www.mdhouselive.com.

Learn more about M.D. House and Pillars of Barabbas at www.mdhouselive.com. Pillars of Barabbas is available on Amazon here.