As they walked toward the house, Luke talked with his grandfather Jonathan.
Jonathan was sixty years old, but he looked too young to be called an old man.
His arms were strong and sturdy, and he was still working as a blacksmith.
“You look just like your father,” Jonathan said.
“You knew my father?” Luke asked.
“Yes. He was the man who took my daughter away,” Jonathan replied.
“That face is not easy to forget.”
But Jonathan’s eyes were smiling.
“Alex was a good man,” he went on.
“He did not look down on Jews. That was rare among Greeks.
He was humble, too. He helped my business and was a good customer.
I always thought it was only natural that Dinah fell in love with him.
He was a fine young man.
If only he had accepted circumcision and become my adopted son,
there would have been no problem.
But for his parents, that was impossible.”
Jonathan sighed softly.
“Your grandmother and I could not accept that our daughter
was taken by people who did not believe in our God.
Now I regret it.
Perhaps I should have looked further ahead.
Alex was searching for the true God, after all.”
Luke hesitated, then asked the question that worried him.
“Do I need to be circumcised too?”
“Do you plan to live here forever?” Jonathan asked.
“No,” Luke replied.
“I promised my grandfather in Troas.
After three years, I must go back and continue studying to become a doctor.”
“I see,” Jonathan said thoughtfully.
“For those who are not Jews, circumcision should never be forced.
If you come to believe that our God is the true God,
then you may choose to receive it.
Some strict groups will complain, of course,
but you don’t need to worry about that.”
Jonathan smiled again.
“Now then, today is the Sabbath.
After lunch, you may do as you like.
Tomorrow I’ll start teaching you some work.
While you stay here, you’ll need to help out.”
He pointed toward the hills.
“If you climb that hill, you’ll see a fine view.
You’re allowed to go that far even on the Sabbath.
You might even meet the ‘chief of the hill,’
a boy about your age.”
Jonathan laughed cheerfully.