Series 2 Characters

When Macky arrives outside Jerusalem, he has just one contact: Isaac, an older man who owns a boarding house, and, at first, appears to be vague and confused. But Isaac is crazy like a fox; he’s actually a valued rebel leader who uses his boarding house to hide fugitive rebels from the Romans. His batty act continually confounds Tobias and Brutacus, and it also protects his family and deflects suspicion.

Isaac is from Africa, and his involvement with the Friends shows just how widespread the movement is. A gifted storyteller, Isaac uses stories of his people, the Jews, and the newer stories about Jesus to inspire and encourage Macky. Their bond becomes so close that while Macky is in Jerusalem, he appreciates Isaac as a father after leaving Samuel behind.

Devorah and Rachel are Isaac’s wife and daughter. Like Isaac, Devorah is from Africa, but she, too, is well-versed in the stories, and, also like Isaac, she’s an accomplished storyteller.

A motherly sort, Devorah extends a warm welcome to the motley crew of teenage rebels and fugitives – including Macky – who have arrived at her home.

Rachel delights in the stories, and, though very young, and occasionally mischievous, she keeps her parents’ secret well, and sometimes even helps in their work with the rebel underground. Rachel can often be spotted gazing adoringly at her hero, Macky, when he returns from one of his daring missions and tells of his exploits!

Sarah is a girl of Macky’s age who lives inside the besieged city of Jerusalem.

A Jewish rebel, a zealot, through and through, Sarah automatically thinks of fighting back when faced with the very powerful Romans. But when she meets Macky on one of his courier missions, she is intrigued by his peace-loving ways. And he, in turn, is drawn to her idealism – something he misses in Portia. Sarah is not a girl to readily accept defeat in any argument, and she and Portia somehow never hit it off! Maybe it’s because Portia is a Roman and Sarah can’t see beyond that, or perhaps there’s a bit of rivalry between the two girls when it comes to Macky’s attention?

Both Sarah and Macky will take something away from their friendship; Macky will see where unyielding zealotry can often lead, while Sarah will learn from Macky that violence isn’t the answer.

Lucius is a Roman officer Macky meets by accident. Lucius’s motivations are mysterious – until Macky discovers that Lucius is secretly a Friend of Jesus.

The widowed father of two young children – Antonius and Flore – Lucius was once assigned to guard the Apostle Paul, and it was because of that relationship that Lucius eventually became a Friend of Jesus. Now, Lucius secretly tells the stories he heard from Paul to his children and, on occasions, Macky. He also uses his position in the army to secretly help Macky and the rebels when he can. Although Lucius is an officer in the same army as both Brutacus and Toadie, he has little else in common with these two slow-witted, greedy, self-serving oafs! The path Lucius has chosen instead is incredibly dangerous, but as Macky already knows, he’s not the only one taking risks. 

Although only eight years old, Flore helps Lucius by being as grown-up as she can, and keeps house for her father.

Like many Roman military families, the children travel with Lucius wherever the army takes him and live safely within the camp, so ‘house’ for Flore is mostly a tent, and the cooking she does often relies on whatever supplies are available within the heart of a vast army far from home. 

Her brother, Antonius, is eleven, and he too likes to help his father, sometimes acting as his messenger in and around the Roman camp. The two children look forward to the return of their father each evening from his military duties, and love to hear the special stories he tells. Although young, both children understand that as they live amid the Roman army, they must take care not to mention those stories, unless to someone they know is a friend, such as Macky. 

Amikam is one of the zealot leaders, and is certainly not a man to cross, but even he is won over by Macky’s good nature when he arrives unannounced inside the walls of Jerusalem.

After a somewhat prickly welcome, Amikam reluctantly holds out his hand to Macky in friendship. However this is something of a truce between the two, and before long, Amikam and Macky are disagreeing every time they meet! Amikam might be a fanatic, but he’s no wild-eyed maniac. He’s a shrewd and fearless warrior whose schemes against the Romans very nearly turn the tide of battle. Macky also likes scheming against his old enemies, the Romans, but it would be true to say that his methods are very different from Amikam’s!

Abe is a refugee rebel teenager who has been given shelter at Isaac’s boarding house.

The most notable thing about Abe is how tall he is – he is constantly banging his head on beams and in doorways! Somehow everything in life seems to come as a surprise to Abe, and his comical face and voice constantly give this away, but Abe knows what he believes in, and as part of Macky’s new circle of friends, he is a steadfast fighter and a loyal comrade. 

Joel too has taken refuge at Isaac’s house, and he is also a teenager like Abe, but short, stocky and strong.

Joel is a fast runner, always keen on action and glad to be included in any of Macky’s exploits against the Romans – another reliable friend in a tight spot.