When Saint John the Apostle Chased Down a Bandit to Save His Soul—Here’s the Powerful Story

“Whatmanofyou,havingahundredsheep,ifhehaslostoneofthem,doesnotleavetheninety-nineintheopencountry,andgoaftertheonethatislost,untilhefindsit?5Andwhenhehasfoundit,helaysitonhisshoulders,rejoicing.”–Jesus,Luke15.4-5 “Listentoatale,whichisnotameretale,”begins Eusebius inhis4thbook ChurchHistory, “butanarrativeconcerningJohntheapostle,whichhasbeenhandeddownandtreasuredupinmemory.”(III.23.6) It’sthelatefirstcentury,andJohntheApostlehasjustreturnedfromexileontheislandofPatmos(wherehereceived Revelation),andhe’stravelingaroundappointingbishops. Inonecity,hegivesthenewbishopsaspecialchargetolookafterthespiritualhealthofaparticularyoungman: “ThisoneIcommittoyouinallearnestnessinthepresenceoftheChurchandwithChristaswitness.” Thebishoptaughttheyoungmanthefaithandbaptizedhim.But,unfortunately,soonafter,theyoungmanfellinwiththewrongcrowd.Hefirstindulgedwiththeminworldlypleasures,andthenfellintorobberyandothercrimes. Theyoungmanstillhadaconscien