A Woman of Words

Asked by Mary to record stories of Yeshua while the eyewitnesses are still alive, Matthew, a disciple, reluctantly agrees. But the longer they work together, the more difficult their task becomes as they face threats and opposition. And when Matthew works to save his people, he realizes that the job he hesitantly accepted may be his God-given destiny.

Could the Greatest Calling of Their Lives Still Be Ahead of Them?

Mary, mother of Yeshua, is nearing sixty, and though she still delights in serving alongside the disciples, she has begun to feel her age and experience fading memories. She feels compelled to record the stories of Yeshua's life while the eyewitnesses are still alive.

The disciple Matthew is overjoyed to join Peter, James, and John in Jerusalem. He dreams of preaching but is disheartened when he learns the other disciples prize his skills as a bookkeeper more than his teaching ability. He is further dismayed when Yeshua's mother asks him to help her compose a manuscript. He agrees, yet their differing visions cause friction between them from the start.

As word of their work spreads throughout Jerusalem, they face pressure from both friends and foes, and when the Roman emperor turns an angry eye toward the Holy City, Mary, Matthew, and the believers must endure an unimaginable test of faith.

"Angela Hunt's knowledge of the politics of the time is impressive. She also explains her research and commitment to honor 2 Timothy 3:16, which includes the phrase "All scripture is inspired by God," in an author's note at the end of the book. Fans of Christian fiction and strong female characters will enjoy this fictional account of the writing of the Gospel of Matthew." -- Historical Novel Reviews

Disciple Matthew, a former tax collector, is invited to work with Peter, James, and John in Jerusalem. He dreams of preaching and performing miracles like his fellow apostles, but he finds his dreams postponed because of a request from Yeshua's mother. Well aware of the passing years, Mary asks Matthew to help her record the stories of Yeshua while the eyewitnesses are still alive. Reluctantly, he agrees, though the longer he and Mary work together, the more difficult their task becomes. Not only are they pressured by opposition from friends and foes alike, but Gaius Caesar, better known as Caligula, is determined to raise a statue of himself in the Holy Temple, even if it means killing every man in Israel. As Matthew works to save his people, Mary encourages him to come to terms with issues from his past. When they finally near the completion of their project, Matthew realizes that the job he reluctantly accepted might be his God-given destiny.