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 N THE EVENING another meal was prepared and consumed, whereupon preparations were made for the departure on the following day.
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Now Cyrenius and his suite knew that the new Carthaginian ship was still not ballasted nor provisioned, and Cyrenius was in fact secretly somewhat worried about it.
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But a youth went over to him and said, 'Cyrenius Quirinus, you shall not worry about anything even in secret.
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See, that which now concerns you has long been well taken care of.
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Just have this house put in good order during your absence and we will surely take care of everything else in the name of the Lord God Zebaoth!'
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Cyrenius believed - and ceased to worry about anything that concerned the care of the ships.
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Thereupon Cyrenius called the captain over and put him in charge of the care and management of the citadel.
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When the captain had again taken up his usual duty,
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Cyrenius called the commander over and again gave him full authority over the military forces stationed in this city.
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For with the Romans a local commander was not permitted to give orders according to his own judgment in the presence of the governor who then was the only authority.
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When Cyrenius was through making arrangements, he went over to Joseph and said,
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'My truly exalted, yes I would say, my divine friend and brother! How many things do I now have to thank you and most especially your most holy Baby for!
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How, when, with what will I ever be able to pay you back this great debt?
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You have given me Tullia, and have wonderfully saved my life!
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Truly, I cannot even count up all the extraordinary and miraculous good deeds which you have accorded me during the short time that I was here.'
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And Joseph said, 'Friend, how long has it been since I was in great trouble?
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At that time you were sent to meet me as a rescuing angel of the Lord at Tyre.
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See, thus one hand constantly washes the other in the great body of humanity.
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But let us speak no more about that. See, evening is here. The villa lies an hour outside the city, so let me depart now and make my way homeward.
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You and your companions have mine and the Lord's blessing manifold, so you may depart from here in good cheer.
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And take the three lions into your ship - they will render you good service.
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For you will run into a storm and will be driven off course toward Crete, and the rapacious Cretans will suddenly fall upon you.
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At that time the three lions will again be of good service to you.'
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At this Cyrenius was disheartened, but Joseph comforted him and assured him that no one would suffer the least harm.
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