Legette Blythe gives equal weight to the externals of imperial Rome and those of the Way of the Galilean's followers in this novel of St. Paul's spiritual journey. Saul first appears as he leaves Tarsus, his wife and son dead of fever, as a representative of the Sanhedrin, for Jerusalem. There he ardently persecutes the followers of Jesus, is instrumental in and witnesses Steven's death, before his vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus changes his life. There follow his wanderings as an apostle, preaching to Gentiles as well as to Jews, and his ultimate martyrdom in Rome. The pageant of empire under Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero is dutifully recorded, its effect on the emergent Christian sect and on Palestine in general noted. Other major characters include Pilate, who dies deented from guilt in exile; his wife Claudia, one of Jesus' followers who is divorced by Caligula's decree from Pilate; Longinus, whom Claudia marries, and who, as a Roman officer, pierced Jesus' side to end his agony and finally finds peace in following Him... A view from without, historically oriented, but superficial.