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4037a AM, 4746 JP, 33 AD
6517. The number of believers increased at Jerusalem and the money that came in helped support the poor of the church. There arose (as it commonly happens among a multitude) a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews because they thought their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of the church's money. The apostles did not have time to be involved in distributing the gifts from the rich of the church to the poor or to manage the money that came in from the sale of property for the church. Seven men were chosen to be stewards of the church's goods and manage that service. These were Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nichoias, a proselyte of Antioch. (It was evident because they all had Greek names that in this selection, there was no way the Greeks could say they were ignored.) The word of the Lord increased and the number of the disciples was multiplied at Jerusalem and many of the priests were obedient to the faith. {Ac 6:1-7}
6518. Stephen did many wonders and miracles among the people and stoutly defended the cause of Christ against the Jews of the synagogue of the Libertines (those freed by their masters), Cyrenians, Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia. He disputed with them about Christ and when they could not resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spoke, they falsely accused him. They captured him and brought him before the council. They had false witnesses who would swear that they heard him speak blasphemous words against the temple and the law. {Ac 6:8-15}
6519. In a long speech before the high priest (Annas) and the council, Stephen showed that the true worship of God was observed by Abraham and his posterity before the temple was built by Solomon and even before Moses was born. He stated that Moses testified of Christ and that the outward ceremonies that were given to their fathers, were only to last for a time. Then, he sharply reprehended the Jews because they had always resisted the Holy Ghost and had wickedly put Christ to death whom the prophets had foretold would come into the world. Thereupon, the council was mad with rage and they cast that holy man out of the city and stoned him to death while he was praying for them. {Ac 7:1-60}
6520. Before the witnesses (according to the law, {De 17:7}) were about to throw the first stones at Stephen, they laid their garments at a young man's feet called Saul. He watched their clothes and consented to the death of Stephen. {Ac 7:58 8:1 22:20} Saul was a man, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin, born at Tarsus in Cilicia which Strabo stated was a famous city for the study of philosophy and the liberal sciences. {*Strabo, l. 14. 6:347} Saul was of the sect of the Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. At that time he studied divinity in Jerusalem in the synagogue of the Cilicians. He frequented the school of Gamaliel who was that famous doctor among the Pharisees and a most strict observer of the law of Moses and of the traditions delivered to the fathers. {Ac 21:39 22:3 23:6,34 26:4,5 2Co 11:22 Ga 1:14 Php 3:5,6}
6521. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made a great lamentation for him. {Ac 8:2}
6522. Aelius Lamia died at Rome who was the absentee governor of Syria. Flaccus Pomponius, the true governor of Syria, died in the province. {Tacitus, Annals, 6. c. 27.} {Suetonius, Tiberius, c. 42.}
4037b AM, 4747 JP, 34 AD
6523. Herod Agrippa had his daughter Mariamme by Cypros, ten years before his death. {Josephus, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:485> l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:524>}
6524. There arose a great persecution after the death of Stephen against the whole church which was at Jerusalem. {Ac 8:1 11:19} Saul in an exceedingly great rage, made havock of the church. He received authority from the chief priests and he testified against the saints who were killed. He also entered into every house and took captive men and women. He bound and put them in prison and often beat them in every synagogue. He compelled some to deny Christ and to blaspheme while he persecuted to death others who kept the faith. {Ac 8:1 9:13,21 22:4,5,19 26:9-11 Ga 1:13,23 Php 3:6 1Ti 1:13}
6525. This persecution dispersed the church into various countries but was for the great advantage of the church. The apostles were left alone at Jerusalem while the rest, of whom there were some thousands, {Ac 2:41 4:4} were dispersed into the regions of Judea and Samaria. They preached the gospel wherever they went. {Ac 8:1-4} Others went to Damascus, {Ac 9:19,25} among whom was Ananias, a devout man according to the law and one who had a good report among all the Jews who lived there. {Ac 22:12} It is very likely that others went even to Rome itself and among them Junias and Andronicus who were of note among the apostles and relatives of this persecutor, Paul. They had embraced the faith before him. {Ro 16:7} Others travelled as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch and preached the word of God to the Jews only. {Ac 11:19} That is to those who were dispersed among the Gentiles. {Jas 1:1 1Pe 1:1}
6526. Philip was among those who went to Samaria. He was the second in order after Stephen the first martyr among the seven that were chosen. {Ac 8:5 21:8} Philip came into the city of Samaria and preached Christ there. The people with one accord listened to what he said. They saw the miracles which he did, for unclean spirits cried out with a loud voice and came out of many. He healed many who were stricken with palsies and who were lame. There was great joy in that city and many men and women believed and were baptized. Also Simon Magus listened to Philip. For a long time Simon had bewitched the people of Samaria with his sorceries. Everyone said this was the great power of God. When Simon saw the great signs and wonders which Philip did, he believed and was baptized also. {Ac 8:5-13}
6527. When the apostles, who were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of the Lord, they sent Peter and John to them. When they prayed and laid their hands on them, the new converts received the Holy Ghost. When Simon Magus saw this, he offered them money so that he also might receive the gift of conferring the Holy Ghost. Peter sharply rebuked his mad impiety and warned him to repent of his wickedness and to ask pardon from God. Simon desired the apostles to pray for him to the Lord. When they had completed their ministry in those regions, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in the villages of Samaria as they went. {Ac 8:14-25}
6528. After many ages had past, a bird called the Phoenix returned to Egypt and the learned Egyptians and the Greeks discussed many things about this miracle. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 28.} Dio stated that this bird appeared in Egypt two years later. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}
6529. Philip the tetrarch who was always reputed a modest man and a lover of ease and quietness, died in the twentieth year of Tiberius. He had governed Trachonitis, Gaulanitis, and Batanaea for thirty seven years and died at Julias. He was put in a monument that he built previously for himself in which he was magnificently and sumptuously interred. Since he died without children, Tiberius annexed that principality to the province of Syria. However, the tributes which were collected in this tetrarchy, were to be kept within the borders of that country. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}
6530. At Rome in this twentieth year of Tiberius' reign, the consuls, Lucius Vitellius and Fabius Priscus held the ten years games that they might as it were extend the government for him, as it used to be done to Augustus. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:247}
6531. In this year, (as Dio has it) or three years later (as Tacitus hints at the end of the fifth book of his annals) this story is told. A certain young man said that he was Drusius Germanicus' son. He was seen first in the islands of the Cyclades and soon after that on the continent of Greece and Ionia. He was attended by some of Caesar's freed men. The ignorant were allured by the fame of his name and by the minds of the Greeks ready for new and wonderful things. For they pretended and also believed that if he could get from those who kept him, he would go to his father's armies and would invade Egypt or Syria. When Poppaeus Sabinus heard these things, who was in charge of Macedonia and Achaia, he entered Nicopolis which was a Roman colony. There he knew that the young man who when he was more closely examined, had said that he was Marcus Silanus' son and that many of his followers had sailed away and he sailed as if he would go to Italy. Tacitus says he was never seen again and this was the end of the matter. However, Dio added that this impostor was willingly received by the cities and strengthened with troops. He would have had without doubt come into Syria and taken over the armies had not someone recognised him and apprehended him and sent him to Tiberius. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 5. c. 10.} {*Dio, l. 58. 7:249}
4038a AM, 4747 JP, 34 AD
6532. Philip the Evangelist, was directed by an angel and went to Gaza which is a desert. See note on 3672 AM <<1827>>. He met an eunuch, who had the charge of the treasure of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, (in Meroe) and was returning in his chariot from Jerusalem where he had been to worship. He was reading from Isaiah when the Spirit told Philip to go to him. Philip instructed him in the faith of Christ and baptized him. Philip was immediately caught away out of his sight by the Spirit of the Lord and was found at Azotus. He passed through the country and he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. {Ac 8:26-40}
4038b AM, 4748 JP, 35 AD
6533. Saul was still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord and obtained letters from the high priest (Annas, {Ac 4:6} and the council of which he was then president) for the synagogues of Damascus. They stated that if he found any who were Christians, he was to bring them bound to Jerusalem so that they might be punished. As he came near Damascus at noon, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone around him and those who were with him. When they had all fallen to the earth, he heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew language:
``Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. {Ac 26:16}
6534. He asked who it was and was told:
``I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest, but rise and stand upon thy feet, I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of those things that thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me. {Ac 26:15-18}
6535. Saul was trembling and full of fear and asked what the Lord would have him do. He was told to go to Damascus and await further instructions. The men who journeyed with Saul were so amazed that they were speechless. They saw the light and heard a sound of words but did not see Christ who spoke nor understood anything that he spoke. {Ac 9:1-7 22:5-14 26:12-18}
6536. Saul arose from the earth and was blinded with the glory of the light. They led him by the hand to Damascus {Ac 9:8 22:11} where he stayed for three days without sight and did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple named Ananias, to whom the Lord spoke by a vision. He was told to go to the street called Straight and enquire for Saul of Tarsus in the house of Judas. The Lord told him that Saul was praying. (Then Saul saw in a vision, Ananias coming and laying his hands on him that he might receive his sight.) Ananias objected that he had heard of this fellow and he had power from the religious leaders in Jerusalem to take all the Christians. The Lord told Ananias to go, for Saul would become a great missionary and witness for Christianity and would suffer much for it. Ananias went to the house and laid his hands on Saul. He told Saul that Jesus had appeared to him on his way to Damascus and he had come to restore his sight and to anoint him with the Holy Ghost. Immediately, there fell from his eyes as it were scales and he received his sight. {Ac 9:9-18}
6537. Ananias told him:
``The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that just one, and shouldest hear the voice from his mouth, for thou shalt be a witness before all men, of those things that thou hast heard and seen: and now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized and be washed from thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. {Ac 22:14-16}
6538. Saul arose and was baptized. He ate and was strengthened. {Ac 9:18,19}
6539. Luke does not tell us in Acts what was revealed from the Lord to Saul at Damascus that he should do. We learn what happened immediately after his conversion from the book of Galatians. He was told not to confer with men nor go to Jerusalem to the apostles but should spend some time in Arabia or places near Damascus. There he would receive the knowledge of the gospel not from men but directly from Jesus Christ. {Ga 1:12,16,17.}
6540. After this, Saul returned to Damascus {Ga 1:17} and spent a few days with the disciples. He immediately preached in the synagogues that Christ was the Son of God. They were all amazed who heard these things, and said that is not this the one who came from Jerusalem to bind the Christians to take them back to Jerusalem. Saul increased in strength more and more and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus and taught that Jesus was the Christ. {Ac 9:19-22} He first preached the gospel to the Jews who lived in Damascus. {Ac 26:20}
6541. Tiberius was informed by Pilate from Palestine, concerning the affairs of Christ. Tiberius proposed to the senate that Christ should be considered one of the gods. The senate opposed this but Tiberius did not change his mind and threatened that:
``it would be dangerous for any to accuse a Christian
6542. So it is related by Tertullian {Tertullian, Apologetic, c. 5, 21.} and others that follow him. {Eusebius, Chronicles} {Eusebius, History Eccles., l. 2. c. 2.} Our English writer, Gildas in a letter about the destruction of Britain, which if granted, we may correctly say, that the first persecution after the murder of Stephen which arose in Judaea ceased partly by the conversion of Saul who greatly promoted it and partly through the fear of Tiberius.
6543. L. Vitellius who the year before was consul at Rome, was sent by Tiberius as the proconsul for Syria. He arrived in Jerusalem, at the very feast of the passover and received an honourable welcome. He remited the whole tribute of the fruits put out for sale and allowed that the high priest's garment with all that belonged to it should be stored in the temple by the priests. It was formerly kept by the Roman governor in the citadel of Antonia. Thus he satisfied the Jews. He put Jonathan the son of Ananus (or Annas) for the high priest instead of Joseph Caiaphas. He then went to Antioch. {Josephus, l. 15. c. ult. <c. l1. 1:424> 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:482,483>}
6544. After Artaxias, the king of Armenia had died, Artabanus, the king of Parthia, made Arsaces, the oldest of his children, to be king over the Armenians. Since Tiberius did not object or interfere, he made an attempt on Cappadocia and demanded the treasure left by Vonones in Syria and Cilicia and asserted his right to the ancient boundaries of the Persians and Macedonians. He bragged and threatened that he would invade all that was possessed by Cyrus or Alexander. Sinnaces was a rich noble man and was supported by Abdus, an eunuch. They drew away the principal men of the Parthians to them. They could find no suitable descendants for Arsacides the king, since most of them were killed by Artabanus or too young to be king. They sent secret messengers to Tiberius to request for their king, Phraates, the son of Phraates, the son of Phraates the 3rd who was kept hostage at Rome. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 31.} {Dio, l. 58. 7:251,253}
6545. Tiberius sent Phraates sufficiently armed into his father's kingdom and manipulated foreign policy by astute diplomacy without warfare while he stayed quietly in Rome. In the meantime, these conspiracies became known. Artabanus invited Abdus under the pretence of friendship to a banquet and gave him a slow poison. He pretended friendship to Sinnaces with gifts and kept him busy doing other things. When Phraates came into Syria, he abandoned the Roman manner of life to which he had been accustomed and resumed the Parthian customs. He was unable to handle his country manners and fell sick and died. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 32.}
6546. After the death of Phraates, Tiberius sent Tiridates 3rd who was from the same royal family and who was an enemy to Artabanus. To help him get the kingdom quicker, Tiberius wrote to Mithridates the Iberian that he should invade Armenia. Tiberius hoped by this means to draw Artabanus from his own kingdom while he helped his son. To this end, he reconciled Mithridates to his brother Pharasmanes, who succeeded his father Mithridates in the kingdom of Iberia. He egged on Pharasmanes himself and the king of the Alanes with large gifts, to suddenly make war on Artabanus. Tiberius made L. Vitellius the general over all these preparations in the east. {Tacitus, l. 6. c. 32.} {Josephus, Antiq, l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>} {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}
6547. Mithridates induced his brother Pharasmenes to advance his endeavours by policy and force. Arsaces, the son of Artabanus, was killed by his servants who were bribed to do this by large sums of gold. The Iberians invaded Armenia and destroyed the city Artaxara. When Artabanus knew these things, he outfitted his son Orodes to revenge it. He gave him the Parthian troops and sent others to get mercenaries. On the other side, Pharasmenes allied himself to Albanius and summoned the Samaritans to his help whose princes are called "Sceptruchi." When the Samaritans had received gifts from both sides as the custom of that country was, it supplied troops to both sides. The Iberians controlled all the passes and had the Samaritans enter Armenia by the Caspian passes. Those Samaritans who came from the Parthians were easily driven back. There was only one pass available to them and it was between the farthest Albanian Mountains and the shore of the Caspian Sea. It is impassable in the summer because the Etesian gales flood the seaboard . {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 33.} {Josephus, Antiq. l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}
6548. When Pharasmenes had received reinforcements, he forced Orodes to fight who was destitute of his allies. In the battle, he wounded Orodes through his helmet but could not hit him again because he was carried away with his horse and the stoutest of his guard defended their wounded king. Nevertheless a false rumour spread that he was slain and the Parthians believed it and were appalled and lost the battle. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 34,35.} Hence the Parthians lost Armenia again {Josephus, l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>} and it was given to Mithridates of Iberia. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}
4039a AM, 4748 JP, 35 AD
6549. Immediately after this, Artabanus went with the whole strength of his kingdom to revenge this. However the Iberians were successful through their better knowledge of the terrain. Artabanus would not have given up had not Vitellius gathered together his legions and spread a rumour, as if he would invade Mesopotamia. Artabanus was afraid of the Roman forces. After this Artabanus' fortune declined. He lost Armenia and Vitellius enticed his subjects to abandon their king who was a tyrant in peace and unlucky in war. Thereupon Sinnaces had a secret conference with Abdageses and others and made them revolt. The way was already prepared by the continual Parthian defeats. His subjects served through fear not good will and were encouraged when they had captains to follow. Vitellius bribed some friends and relatives of Artabanus to try to kill him. When Artabanus knew of the conspiracy, he could not find any way to thwart it. He was in danger from his nobility and he suspected even those who remained under his protection. He fled to the higher provinces and places near to Scythia and hoped for help from the Carmanians and Hyrcanians with whom he was related by marriage. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 36.} {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}
4039b AM, 4749 JP, 36 AD
6550. Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, when he was in great financial need at Ptolemais, borrowed money at interest from Protus a freed man and previously from his mother Bernice who had died. He used the help of Marsyas, his own freed-man. He extorted from Marsyas a bill of his hand for 20,000 Attic drachmas deducting out of that sum 2500 for Marsyas himself which he might the easier do because Agrippa could not otherwise choose otherwise. (??) When he got this money, he went to Anthedon and prepared to sail to Italy. When Herennius Capito, the procurator of Jamnia heard that he was there, he sent soldiers there to exact of Agrippa the 300,000 drachmas of silver he owed to Caesar's treasury when he lived at Rome. By this means he was forced to stay. Thereupon he made a pretence of obeying their commands but as soon as it was night, he cut his cables and sailed to Alexandria. There, he offered to borrow from Alexander Alabarcha 200,000 drachmas of silver. He said that he would lend him nothing but would lend to his wife Cypros for he admired in her, her love for her husband and her other virtues. When she had become his security, Alexander Alabarcha advanced him five talents at Alexandria. He promised to deliver the rest to him at Puteoli because he feared Agrippa would be a bad debt. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7,8. <c. 6. 1:486,487>}
6551. Philo, the Jew, mentions the arrival of Agrippa to the city of Alexandria {Philo, Flaccus} when Flaccus was at that time governor of Egypt. Josephus stated that Philo was the brother of Alexander Alabarcha. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 10. <c. 8. 494>} Jerome also states in his catalogue of ecclesiastical writers, that Philo was of the same family of the priests. Thereupon Baronius (on 34 AD, numb. 265.) thinks Philo to be none other than that Alexander {Ac 4:6} who is said to be of the family of the Priests. However, this was that Alexander Lysimachus, who bore the office of alabarch (a governor of the Jews) at Alexandria, (of whom Juvenal in his first satire) and previously was the steward of Antonia, the mother of the Emperor Claudius and father of Tiberius Alexander, the governor of Judea. Alexander was the richest of all the Jews of Alexandria. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519> l. 20. c. 3. <c. 5. 1:531>} He melted gold and silver for the gates of the temple at Jerusalem, (and not his father, as Baronius wrote in the previously mentioned place.) {Josephus, Wars, l. 6. c. 6.}
6552. When Cypros had supplied her husband for his journey to Italy, she returned with her children to Judea by land. When Agrippa came to Puteoli, he wrote to Tiberius Caesar who was then living at Capreae. He told him that he had come so far to see him and asked permission to come to the island. Tiberius immediately wrote back a kind answer that he would be glad to see him at Capreae. Tiberius received him with great cheerfulness when he came and embraced and lodged him. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 1:487>}
6553. The next day, Caesar received letters from Herennius concerning the 300,000 of silver drachmas Agrippa owed. Tiberius ordered those of his house that Agrippa should not be admitted until he had paid the debt. He was dismayed at Caesar's displeasure and begged Antonia, the mother of Germanicus and Claudius, (later Emperor) that she would lend him 300,000 drachmas lest he should loose the friendship of Caesar. She recalled the friendship her and Bernice, Agrippa's mother and that he had been brought up with her son Claudius and so lent him the money. He paid his debt and regained Tiberius' favour and was so thoroughly reconciled to Caesar that he commended to Agrippa's charge, his nephew (Tiberius the twin) the son of Drusus. He ordered him that he should dutifully attend him wherever he went. Since he was deeply obliged to Antonia for this benefit, he began to reverence Caius (Caligula) her nephew, who was gracious in all men's eyes and honoured for the memory of his father. There was there by chance at the same time, Thallus, a Samaritan, from whom he borrowed 1,000,000 Drachmas and repaid Antonia's debt. He kept the rest so he could more honourably attend to Caius. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. ? <c. 6. 1:487>}
6554. Tigranes was the son of Alexander (that was killed by his father Herod) and of Glaphyra, (the daughter of Archelaus, King of the Cappadocians.) He had turned from the Jews to the Greek's religion and was the king of Armenia for a time. He was accused at Rome and there punished and died without children. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 40.} {Josephus, Annals, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 485,486>}
6555. The Cietae, a tribe in Cilicia Thrachea, were subject to Archelaus the Cappadocian. They were compelled after the Roman custom, to bring in the value of their annual revenues and to pay tribute. They fled to the Taurus Mountain and there defended themselves by the strong location of the place, against the weak forces of their king. Finally, M. Trebellius was sent from Vitellius, president of Syria, with 4000 legionary soldiers and some choice auxiliaries. They surrounded the two hills with works which the barbarians occupied. The smaller hill was called Cadra and the other one, Davara. (Tavara ??) They killed any who dared leave their holds and compelled the rest to surrender for want of water. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 41.}
6556. After Artabanus had fled, the minds of the people were inclined to a new king. Vitellius persuaded Tiridates to seize the opportunity and led his legions and auxiliaries to the bank of the Euphrates River. As they were sacrificing, some prepared Suovetaurilia, (a boar, a ram, and a bull offered to Mars) according to the custom of the Romans. Others prepared an horse to sacrifice to pacify the river. The inhabitants about the Euphrates River told them that the river had exceedingly risen of its own accord, without any heavy rains. They also said that the white froth made circles in the form of a diadem which was an omen of a prosperous journey. However, others interpreted it more subtilly that the beginnings of their expedition would be prosperous but not long lasting. They said this because they gave more credit to those things which were portended by the earth and heaven and the nature of rivers was not constant. If the rivers did show any good signs, they soon disappeared. Vitellius made a bridge from boats and crossed over the river with his army. Orospades came to his camp with many thousands of cavalry and joined him. He was once a banished man and brought considerable aid to Tiberius when he warred in Dalmatia. For that, Tiberius made him a citizen of Rome. After this, he entered anew into the king's favour and he made him governor of Mesopotamia. Not long after that Sinnaces joined Tigranes as well as the Abdageses. They were tbe mainstay of his side and brought him the court treasure and royal regalia. Vitellius thought it enough to have shown the Roman forces and admonished Tiridates that he should remember his grandfather Phraates and his upbringing with Caesar. He should consider the nobles so that they would be obedient to their king and he should reverence the Romans. Everyone should keep their word. Then Vitellius returned with his legions to Syria. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 37.}
6557. Tiridates received from the Parthians the cities of Nicophorium, Anthemusias and the other cities of Macedonia who spoke Greek. Also Halus and Artemita, cities of Parthia, greatly rejoiced for they hated the cruelty of Artabanus who was brought up among the Scythians. They hoped that Tiridates would be gentle sonce he was raised among the Romans. The Seleucians use much flattery and said their city was strong and walled about, not corrupted with barbarity but kept the laws of their founder, Seleucus. When Tiridates arrived there, they highly honoured him and reproached Artabanus as one indeed that was of the family of the Arsacidae on his mother's side but in all other things he had degenerated. Tiridates committed the government of the country to the people, whereas Artabanus had delivered it to the rule of 300 of the nobility. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 41,42.}
6558. Tiridates then consulted what day he should be crowned. He received letters from Phraates and Hieron, who held the strongest governments, who desired that he wait for a time. To satisfy those great men, he waited. In the meantime, he went to Ctesiphon, the seat of the kingdom to await their arrival. When they delayed from day to day, Surena, with the approval of many there present, crowned Tiridates after the custom of the country. If Tiridates had entered farther into the country and the other countries, all waiver's doubts would have vanished and the Parthian empire would have been his. Instead he stayed too long besieging a citadel where Artabanus had stored his treasure and concubines. He gave them time to break the agreement. Phraates and Hieron and some others did not celebrate the day appointed for his coronation. Some did this from fear and some for envy to Abdageses who controlled the new king and was the only favourite at court. These turned to Artabanus. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 42, 43.}
6559. Artabanus was found in Hyrcania very lowly attired and living by hunting with a bow. At first he was afraid, as if there had been some treachery. When they had given their faith that they came to restore him to his kingdom again, he stayed no longer than to assemble the Scythian forces (Josephus related that he got together a large army of the Dahae and Sacae) and immediately went with them. He did not change his poor clothes to make the common people pity him more. There was neither subtilty, nor prayers, nor anything omitted, whereby he might either draw the doubtful to him or confirm the willing. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 43, 44.}
6560. He then came with a strong force near Seleucia. Tiridates was afraid of Artabanus and began to hesitate as to what to do, whether he should immediately encounter him or delay the war. Abdageses' opinion was that he should retire into Mesopotamia with the river between them. In the meantime, he should raise forces from the Armenians and Elymeans and the rest behind them. After they increased their forces with the allies and such as the Roman captain would send, then he should try his fortune. His advice was followed because of Abdageses' authority and Tiridates' cowardliness. This retreat differed very little from a route and the Arabians first led the way. The rest went either home or to Artabanus' camp. Tiridates returned back into Syria with a small company and did not accuse them of the infamy of treason. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 44.}
6561. Artabanus easily overcame his enemies and was restored to his kingdom. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>} {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253} Artabanus wrote letters to Tiberius, and accused him of patricides, murders, sloths and luxury. He told Tiberius that he would quickly satisfy the most just hatred of the citizens by a voluntary death. {Suetonius, Tiberius, c. 66.} Artabanus invaded Armenia and planned to attack Syria. {Dio, l. 59. 7:349}
6562. Agrippa was entertained with a close friendship by Caius Caligula. On a certain day as he rode in the same coach with him, he wished that Tiberius might shortly turn over the empire to him since he was a more worthy person. Eutichus overheard these words and said nothing. He was one of Agrippa's freedmen and his coach driver. Eutichus was later accused of stealing a garment from his patron. He had stolen it and fled. When he was brought back again, he was taken to Piso, the prefect of the city and asked why he fled. He replied that he had some secrets which he wanted to reveal to Caesar that concerned the safety of Caesar. Thereupon he was sent in bonds to Capreae and there was a prisoner for a long time before it pleased Caesar to give him any hearing. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:487>}
6563. A certain impostor persuaded the Samaritans that they should meet at Mount Gerizim which that country thought was most holy. He affirmed that he would then show them the holy vessels buried where Moses had put them. They believed him and took up arms and camped around a village called Tyrabatha and awaited the arrival of the rest so that they might ascend the hill with the larger company. Pilate took control of the top of the hill with his cavalry and foot soldiers. He attacked those who were camped at the village. Some he killed, others fled and the rest were captured. He beheaded the ringleaders and those with the most power among them. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 5. <c. 4. 1:482>}
4040a AM, 4749 JP, 36 AD
6564. The chief men of Samaria appealed to Vitellius, the governor of Syria and accused Pilate of this murder. They denied that this assembly at Tirabatha was any revolt from the Romans but a refuge from the tyranny of Pilate. Thereupon Vitellius sent his friend Marcellus to take charge of Judea and ordered Pilate to go to Rome to answer before Caesar to the crimes the Jews alleged he had done. He had lived ten years in that province to which would be added the little time of 4 or 5 months, unless he deferred his voyage through fear of storms. (The fast of the seventh month was past. {Ac 27:9}) He may have been detained by contrary winds or by some delay that made him prolong his journey. Before Pilate came to Rome, Tiberius had died. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 5. <c. 4. 1:482>}
6565. When Tiberius came from Capreae to Tusculanum, which was a region from the city of about 12 miles, he was persuaded, though much against his will, that he should hear Eutichus so that it might be known of what crime he accused his patron. When he examined the matter, he found that Agrippa had neglected his commands of honouring his nephew Tiberius, Drusius' son and had wholly given himself over to Caius. Thereupon he ordered Macro (who succeeded Sejanus in the command of the praetorian guard) that he should bind Agrippa. Then Agrippa prayed and begged for pardon for the memory of his son with whom he was brought up, in good friendship and by those services that he had done for the young Tiberius. This was all in vain and the praetorian soldiers carried him to prison even in his purple robes. At that time it was very hot weather and he was very thirsty for want of wine. He saw a servant of Caius carrying a pitcher of water and he desired to drink. When he had willingly given it to Agrippa, he drank it and said to him:
``Truly, Lad, you have done me this service for your own good, for as soon as I shall be free from this bondage, I will beg Caius for your freedom.
6566. Agrippa followed through on his promise. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:488-489>}
6567. Agrippa stood bound among the other prisoners before the palace and leaned in a melancholy posture against a tree on which sat an owl. One of the prisoners, who was a German, saw the bird and asked a soldier, who was the prisoner in the purple robe. When he knew that he was one of the chief nobility of the Jews, he was led to him and through an interpreter, he told Agrippa that this bird signified that there would be a sudden change of his present fortune. He would be advanced to great dignity and power and he would have an happy death. (His death was most unhappy and showed that the German was a false prophet.) He added that when he would see this bird again, he would die within five days. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:489,490>}
6568. Antonia was grieved at the calamity of Agrippa and thought it would be pointless to speak to Tiberius on his behalf. However she obtained this much of Macro that he might be committed to the custody of the soldiers of a gentle behaviour and that he would have a centurion who would provide him his food. He was allowed the use of his daily things and that his friends and freedmen might come to him whose services might relieve him. Then Silas his friend, visited him along with his freedmen Marsyas and Stechus. They brought him his favourite foods and they brought also garments as if they would sell them, on which he lay at night. The soldiers allowed this having received orders from Macro. In this way he spent six months in prison, until the death of Tiberius. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 1:490>}
6569. In the district of Gamalile, Herod the tetrarch and Aretas, the king of Arabia Petrea had a dispute. He had not forgotten the wrong done to his daughter, whom Herod had married. Herod despised her and married in her place, Herodias, his brother's wife. Herod and Aretas waged war through their lieutenants. When the battle started, Herod's army was totally defeated because they were betrayed by some banished men who were driven from the tetrarchy of Philip and had served under Herod. Herod wrote letters to Tiberius telling him what had happened. Tiberius was angry at Anetas for his bold attack and wrote to Vitellius that he should make war upon him. Tiberius wanted Vitellius would to either bring him alive or if dead, to send him his head. The Jews thought that Herod's defeat was the just judgment of God for the murder of John the Baptist. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 5. 1:484>}
4040b AM, 4750 JP, 37 AD
6570. When Cn. Acerronius and C. Pontius Nigrinus were consuls, Tiberius died on March 18th (17 calends of April) as it is in Suetonius {Suetonius, Tiberius, c. 13.} {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 50.} or rather the 27th or 26th day of March when as after the death of Augustus, he had reigned 22 years 7 months 7 days. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:257} It was not 5 months and 3 days, as Josephus stated in {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:492?>} nor 6 months 3 days, as in his Wars. {Josephus, Wars, l. 2. c. 8.}
6571. After the death of Tiberius was known, Marsyas ran to his patron Agrippa, whom he found bathing himself. He nodded his head and told him in Hebrew.
``The lion is dead.
6572. When the centurion who kept him, knew from them that Tiberius was dead, he took off Agrippa's bonds and bade them good cheer. As they were merrily eating and drinking, one came and said Tiberius was still alive and that he would shortly return to the city. The centurion was terrified by this and ordered Agrippa to be thrust from the rabble and bound and to be more carefully guarded. The next day Caius sent two letters. One went to the senate which stated Caius had succeeded Tiberius in the empire. The other went to Piso, the prefect of the city, and said the same thing and added that he should set Agrippa free and restore him to that house where he had previously lived. Although he was a prisoner yet he lived at his own discretion. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:492>}
6573. Caius returned to Rome and brought the body of Tiberius. He held a most sumptuous funeral with great solemnity. When on the same day he would have released Agrippa, but by the advice of Antonia, he held off. She wished Agrippa well but said he should not free him too quickly lest he seem to do this in hatred for Tiberius who had imprisoned Agrippa. However, not many days later, he sent for him to his house and ordered his hair to be cut and changed his clothes and then put a crown on his head. He made him king of Philip's tetrarchy and gave him also the tetrarchy of Lysanias. He changed his chain of iron into a chain of gold of the same weight and sent Marullus as governor to Judea. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:492>}
6574. Caius Caligula freed Agrippa the grandson of Herod from bonds whom Tiberius had put on him and gave him his grandfather's principality. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:283} Philo {Philo, Flaccus} stated that he was honoured with the office of a praetor by the Roman senate and that Caius gave him the kingdom and the third part of the old dominion that his uncle Philip possessed. When Agrippa had received the kingdom, he asked for Thaumastus who had given him a drink when he was a prisoner, from Caius. Agrippa gave him his liberty and made him steward of his goods. When Agrippa died, he left him in the same office to his son, Agrippa and daughter, Bernice. Thaumastus was highly respected as long as he lived. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:489>}
6575. Caligula gave to Antiochus, the son of Antiochus Commagene, his father's kingdom as well as the coastal region of Cilicia. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:283}
6576. Vitellius, the governor of Syria, took two legions and the foot soldiers and cavalry that were sent from kings that were allies. He hurried toward Petra and came to Ptolemais. He thought to lead his army through Judea but the leaders of that country approached him and wished that he would not pass that way for the customs of their country would not permit that any images should be carried there. The Roman banners had many images. He yielded to their request and sent his army through the large plain and came with Herod the tetrarch and his friends to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God at the next feast which was to happen soon. When he was come, he was magnificently entertained by the people and stayed there three days. In the mean time, he transferred the high priesthood from Jonathan to Theophilus, his brother. {Josephus, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:484,485>}
6577. Four days later, Vitellius received letters of Tiberius' death. He made the people take the oath of fidelity to the new emperor Caius. {Josephus, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:485>} Thereupon Agrippa send letters to Caius and stated: {Philo, Legatio.}
``They greatly desired succession, (Oh emperor) and it was first heard of at Jerusalem and the same news was diffused to the neighbouring provinces from the holy city. Since this city, of all the east, first greeted you emperor, it is fitting that it should be treated more graciously by you.
6578. In the council of the Jews, in their speech to Petronius: (in the same author)
``When Caius had obtained the empire, we first, of all Syria and congratulated with Vitellius, (whose successor you are.) When he was in our city and had received letters concerning this business. We spread this joyful news to other cities and our temple first of all temples, sacrificed for the empire of Caius.
6579. Vitellius recalled his forces and abandoned his intended war because of the new emperor. Some report that when Aretas heard the news of Vitellius' expedition, he learned from auguries that it was impossible for his army to come to Petra because one of the generals would die, either he that commanded the expedition, or he that obeyed it, or he against whom the expedition was. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:485>}
6580. Josephus wrote that Vitellius went to Antioch and sent his army into their winter quarters. This was not likely, since it was the beginning of summer. He should have said that he went with his forces to the Euphrates River to make a league with the king of the Parthians. It appears from Suetonius and Dio, that this was done, not in Tiberius' reign, (as Josephus thinks) but under Caius, for Artabanus always hated and despised Tiberius but willingly sought an alliance with Caius. Vitellius by all his policy, not only had a conference with him but also had him worship the Roman standards. As Arabanus was crossing the Euphrates River he admired the Roman eagles and sacrificed to the images of Augustus and Caius. He agreed to the conditions of peace which were favourable to the Romans and gave his children as hostages. {Suetonius, Caligula. c. 14.} {Suetonius, Vitellius, c. 2.} {*Dio, l. 59. 7:349,351}
6581. The king and Vitellius met in the middle of a bridge, each with their guard. After they had agreed upon a league, Herod invited them both to a banquet in a pavilion he had erected at great cost in the middle of the river. Then Vitellius returned to Antioch and Artabanes to Babylon. However, Herod send this news to Caesar before Vitellius' ambassadors could inform Caesar. Therefore Caesar wrote back to Vitellius when he received his letters that he knew all these things beforehand by Herod's messengers. This greatly troubled Vitellius. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}
6582. Not long after, Artabanus sent his son Darius as hostage along with many gifts. These included a Jew, named Eleazar who was five (seven ??) cubits tall and was called the giant. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}
6583. After Jews of Alexandria, had given Caius all the honours that were lawful for them to decree, they came and offered the decree to Flaccus Abillius. They wanted him, since it was not permitted for them, to send an embassy. He said he would be pleased to send it by his messengers. He read the decree and allowed many of its points. He smilingly said:
``Your piety highly pleases me, I will send it as you desire, I will be your ambassador, that Caius may perceive your gratitude and I will be a witness of the peoples' modesty and obedience well known to me.
6584. However, he withheld this decree that they might seem to be the only enemies of Caius. {Philo, Flaccus}
6585. In the first year of the reign of C. Caligula, Josephus, the writer of the history of the Jews, was born, who was the son of Mattathias, a priest, as Josephus shows in his autobiography. {Josephus, Life, 1:1}
4041a AM, 4750 JP, 37 AD
6586. When Saul had preached the gospel a long time at Damascus, the Jews took council to kill him and they were helped by the governor under Aretas, (who had recently defeated the army of Herod, the tetrarch.) He held Damascus with a garrison and watched the gates day and night so that they might take Saul and kill him. However, Saul was let down by a rope at night in a basket and escaped from them. {Ac 9:23-25 2Co 11:32,33}
6587. After the first three years of his apostleship were over, Saul returned to Jerusalem to see Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. {Ga 1:18} He tried to join with the disciples but they all were afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, (that is, Peter and James, the brother of the Lord, for he saw no other apostles, {Ga 1:19}) and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way and that Jesus had spoken to him and how Saul had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. {Ac 9:26,27}
6588. Saul spoke boldly in the name of Jesus at Jerusalem and disputed with the Greeks or Jews who spoke Greek as the Syriac version correctly translates this passage. The Jews planned to kill him. {Ac 9:29}
6589. When Saul was in the temple praying, he was in a trance and saw the Lord speaking to him to hurry and get out of Jerusalem for the Jews would not hear his message. He replied that the Jews knew that he had imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on Jesus. When the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, Saul was standing by also and guarded the garments of those who killed him. The Lord told him to leave and he would send him to the Gentiles. {Ac 22:17-21}
6590. The brethren at Jerusalem brought him to Caesarea and sent him into his own country of Tarsus. {Ac 9:30} He went into the countries of Syria and Cilicia. He was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, but they had only heard that he preached the faith which once he destroyed and they glorified God in him. {Ga 1:21-23}
6591. The churches had rest throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria. They were edified and walked in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghost and were multiplied. {Ac 9:31}
4041b AM, 4751 JP, 38 AD
6592. Herod Agrippa had a daughter by Cypros, named Drusilla, (who later married Felix.) {Ac 24:24} She was six years old when her father died. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:485> l. 19. c. ult. <c. 9. 1:524>}
6593. Caligula forced Macro, to whom Egypt was committed, (the six years that were appointed by Tiberius for the government of Flaccus Abilius had expired) and his wife Ennia, by whose help he had gotten the empire, to commit a voluntary suicide. {Philo, Caius} {Philo, Flaccus} {Suetonius, Caligula. c. 26.} {*Dio, l. 59. 7:291}
6594. After Marco was killed, Flaccus, who was the governor of Egypt on whom he most relied was shrewdly afraid of Caligula. Dionysius Lampo and Isidore persuaded him to use that occasion to be generous to the people of Alexandria and befriend them. They said that nothing would be more grateful to them than that he would allow them to plunder the Jews and Flaccus followed their council. {Philo, Flaccus}
6595. Caligula, by a decree of the senate, gave Sohaemus the kingdom of the Arabians of Ituraea. He gave Cotys, Armenia the Less and some parts of Arabia. He gave Rhoematalces, the kingdom of Cotys and to the son of Polemon, his father's kingdom (that is, Pontus.) {*Dio, l. 59. 7:295,297}
6596. In the second year of Caligula's reign, Herod Agrippa asked permission to return home to settle the affairs of his kingdom and he promised that when he had done that, he would return. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 6. 1:492>} The emperor persuaded him that taking the fastest way was by sea and the Etesian winds were expected any day. Therefore he should go directly to Alexandria and go home the rest of the way by land which would be easier than sailing. Agrippa followed his advice and went to Puteoli. He found a ship ready to set sail for Alexandria and a few days later he arrived in Alexandria. {Philo, Flaccus}
6597. The Alexandrians naturally hated the Jews and did not like that they had a king. In their gymnasium they derided Agrippa with scurrilous speeches and mocking verses of jesters. They brought a mad man there who was called Cariba and went naked night and day in the streets. They put him in a high place so everyone could see him. They gave him a paper crown and a mat for his body instead of his robe. He had a piece of a reed taken from the ground for his sceptre. He was adorned with the trappings of a king like actors do and the young men carried poles on their shoulders as a mock guard. Others came to greet him, some desired justice, others asked council of him concerning the state. Then there was a general acclamation of those who were around him and they called him "Marim", which means in the Syrian language, "Lord". {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 6. 1:728} Thus the king of the Jews was derided after the same manner by others, as the Jews themselves five years earlier had mocked the true majesty of their own king, Jesus Christ.
6598. The Jews of Alexandria told Agrippa of the treachery that Flaccus, the governor, had prepared for their destruction. They also gave to him that writing that they had given to Flaccus to be sent to Caius at the beginning of his reign. Flaccus through malice, had prevented them and they could send it no sooner. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 12. 1:734} {Philo, Caius}
6599. The apostle Peter visited the churches of Judea, Galilee and Samaria and went to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. He healed Aeneas who was sick with the palsy and was in his bed eight years. When all who lived at Lydda and Sharon (concerning which, see {1Ch 5:16 1Ch 27:29}) saw this miracle, they turned to the Lord. {Ac 9:31-35}
6600. A certain disciple called in Syriac language named, Tabitha, and in the Greek, Dorcas, meaning a "she goat", did many good works and alms deeds. She died at Joppa. Since Lydda was close to Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there. They sent two men to him to have him immediately come there. When Peter arrived, he fell on his knees and prayed and restored her to life. This was known through all Joppa and many believed in the Lord. Peter stayed there many days in the house of Simon a tanner. {Ac 9:36-43}
6601. When the common people of Alexandria had regained the favour of Flaccus, the governor, early one morning they all agreed that the statues of Caesar were to be set up in the synagogues of the Jews. The governor allowed this to be done without any respect for the public security although he knew that there were more than 100,000 Jews who lived in Alexandria and all that large country from the descent of Libya even to the bounds of Ethiopia. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 7. 1:729} Then they gathering together in great companies, and either laid waste their synagogues by cutting down their groves or rased them to the ground. In all the synagogues which they could not overthrow or burn, because of the great number of Jews who lived by them, they set up the images of Caius and in the greatest and most frequented synagogues, they set up a statue on high of chariots with four brass horses. In their zeal they ran out of new chariots, so they took out the rusty old ones whose horses lacked their ears, tails, and feet and such as were dedicated (as was reported) to Cleopatra, who was the great grandmother of the last queen by that name. Caius thought that all these things happened from the love that the Alexandrians had for him. He learned this through the registers sent to him from Alexandria (for he read them more willingly than any poem or history) and from some domestic servants (of whom many were Egyptians.) They were in the habit of praising and laughing at these things with him. {Philo, Caius}
6602. Caius Caligula, decreed a holiday for his sister Drusilla who was dead. Anyone who laughed, bathed or made a feast on that day would be killed. {Suetonius, Caligula, c. 24.} {*Dio, l. 59. 7:301}
6603. Flaccus, the governor of Egypt, made an edict, in which he called the Jews, foreigners and did not give the liberty of pleading their cases but condemned outright. There were five divisions of that city named from the first five letters. Two of them were called the Jewish quarters because most of the Jews lived in them although many Jews had houses here and there in the other quarters. The common people of Alexandria obtained from Flaccus, permission to plunder the Jews. They expelled them from four of the divisions and drove them into a small space of the remaining division. The place could not hold them all and the Jews went out to the shores and monuments and dung hills and were robbed of all things. Their enemies ran violently through their abandoned houses. They divided the spoils as would a victorious army and broke open the shops of the Jews which then were shut because of the mourning for Drusilla's death. They carried many things from there and used them for themselves. The ransacking of 400 houses did less harm to the Jews than their loss of trade. When the creditors had lost their security, no husbandman, mariner, merchant, or craftsman, were allowed to use their trades. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 8. 1:729}
6604. Their enemies thought they should shortly see them lie on heaps since so many thousands of men women and children were thrust into a narrow corner of the city like beasts. They would either be killed or die from famine or be stifled in that hot place. Even the neighbouring air was fouled by their breath. They took diligent heed, lest any should secretly escape. As many as they intercepted, they first tormented them and then they killed them. They used all manner of cruelty. Another band of them lay in wait for the Jews who arrived at the ports. When they had taken away their merchandise, they burned the owners in a fire made from the rudders, oars and planks of the ships. In the middle of the city, others were burned by a most miserable kind of death. They lacked wood so they used green vines and made a fire with them. They cast into it these miserable men who were killed from the smoke rather than the fire. Others were dragged with cords tied to their ankles through the market place and the common people mocked them. They mutilated their dead bodies and cut off their members and trampled on them with such cruelty so that they allowed no remains of them to be found for burial. {Philo, Caius} If anyone mourned the misfortune of his friend or relative, he was punished for his compassion. They were scourged and after they had endured all torments that bodies were able to endure, they were crucified. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 9. 1:730,731}
6605. Flaccus the Governor ordered that 38 of the senate, whom Augustus had appointed for a public council of the Jews, to be taken in their own houses and immediately bound. They dragged these old men through the market place with their hands tied behind them. Some were bound with cords, others with chains. They were brought into the theatre and stripped and scourged as they stood before their enemies who sat as judges. Among these men were Erodius Tryphon and Andron who were thus handled in the sight of those who had robbed them of their goods. It was a custom that no one should be condemned until the solemn celebrations and feast days of the births of the Augusti were past. Flaccus on those very days, (for the birthday of Caius was on the last day of August) afflicted these innocent men in this way that day. From the morning to the third or fourth hour (9 or 10 am) of the day, the Jews were scourged, hanged, tied to wheels, condemned and led through the middle of the wrestling place for punishment. Then were brought in dancers, jesters, trumpeters and other sports. The women were carried away as captives, not only in the market place but in the open theatre also for any trifling matter. They were brought on the stage with grievous reproaches. When the crowd knew they were not Jews, they were let go. In their haste many were mistakenly apprehended for Jews before they examined their origin. If they were found to be any Jews among the spectators, the crowd became tyrannical. They ordered the Jews to eat swine's flesh. As many of the Jewish women who ate it for fear of further torture, were let go. However, those who refused to eat it, were tortured most cruelly. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 10, 11. 1:731,732,733}
6606. Castor who was the boldest of the centurions, was ordered by the governor to take with him the bravest of his band and break into the Jews' houses to see if they had any hidden weapons. Castor immediately went and did as he was ordered. The Jews showed all their private places to the searchers. Their women who never went abroad and the fearful virgins, who for modesty avoided the sight of their own kindred, were made a spectacle of, not only to strangers but also to the military rage. However, after all this scrutiny, the arms which they looked for, were not found. For all arms were taken a short time before from the Egyptians by Bassus by the orders of Flaccus. One might see a large number of ships arrive at the port full of arms, which were suitable for seditious men who had often before tried to revolt. However, the Jews were never involved nor ever suspected of being part of any revolt. They went about their business and behaved as good citizens of the city. {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 11. 1:732,733}
4042a AM, 4751 JP, 38 AD
6607. The feast of tabernacles around the autumnal equinox was not observed by the Jews because of this persecution. Flaccus, the governor, was suddenly apprehended by Bassus the centurion as he was at a feast prepared by Stephanion, the freedman of Tiberius Caesar. Bassus was sent with a band of soldiers from Italy on purpose to apprehend Flaccus. When he had set sail in the beginning of winter, he was storm tossed and after much toil, he barely arrived in Italy, where Flaccus was immediately welcomed by those two malicious accusers, Lampo and Isodorus who had incited him against the Jews. Flaccus was condemned and despoiled of all his inheritance and goods which were very expensive. He would have been banished to the most barren island of Gyara in the Aegean Sea unless Lepidus had begged that he might be sent to live on Andros which was close to Gyara. He was killed there by the command of Caius, (as he did to all the noble men who were banished.) {*Philo, Flaccus, c. 13-15, 18. 1:734-336, 738}
4042b AM, 4752 JP, 39 AD
6608. Herodias, the sister of Agrippa, and wife of Herod the tetrarch, was mad with envy to see Agrippa so glorious in his kingly majesty. She persuaded her husband, Herod, that they should go to Rome and beg the same honours from Caesar. Agrippa knew of their intention and preparation for the journey. As soon as he knew they had sailed, he also sent his freedman Fortunatus to Rome to Caesar with gifts and letters written against his uncle. Herod arrived at Baial, a most pleasant town in Campania, where Caesar stayed. He was admitted to his presence and before he could do anything, Caesar gave him the letters he had received from Agrippa, which accused Herod that he had previously conspired with Sejanus against Tiberius and that now he favoured Artabanus the Parthian over the new empire of Caius. For that purpose he had prepared enough arms to furnish 70,000 men. Caius asked Herod if those things were true which were spoken concerning the number of arms, which he granted (for he could not deny it.) Caius thought he had enough evidence of a planned revolt and took from him the tetrarchy of Galilee and Peraea which he later added to Agrippa's kingdom as well as all of Herod's treasure. He sent Herod to Lyons in France and condemned him to perpetual banishment. After Caius knew that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, he allowed her to keep her own wealth. He did not think that she would willingly be her husband's companion in banishment and he promised to spare her as a favour to Agrippa. She thanked Caius for this favour but professed that at this time she would not make use of it for she thought it a sin to forsake her husband in his calamity when she had enjoyed prosperous times with him. Caius took that as a reproach and ordered her also to be banished with her husband and gave her goods to Agrippa. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 9. <c. 7. 1:492,493>} So they were punished for their incestuous marriage eight years after John the Baptist had been beheaded by this Herod and six years after Christ our Saviour had been mocked by the same Herod. {Lu 23:11}
6609. Pontius Pilate was so continually vexed by Caius that he committed suicide. {Jerome, Chronicles (from the Roman Historians)} {Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, (from the Greek Writers of the Olympiads.) l. 2. c. 7.} {Orosius, l. 7. c. 5.} {Cassiodorus, Chronicle}
6610. Caius spanned the gulf between Bauli at Puteoli with a bridge almost 3 and an half miles long. He crossed the bridge with his chariot followed by a long train of his supposed spoils. Among the hostages in the train was the Parthian lad Darius who was the son of Artabanus. He called Darius, Xerxes as a mockery because Caius had made a longer bridge upon the sea than Xerxes. (??) {Josephus, Antiq, l. 19. c. 1. <1:502>} {Suetonius, Caligula. c. 19.} {*Dio, l. 59. 7:311,313}
6611. He also, under pretence of the German war, went a little beyond the Rhine River and then immediately returned as though he would go into Britain. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:325}
6612. Caius sent for Vitellius from Syria so that he might be executed. He was accused of allowed Tiridates, a king whom Tiberius had sent to the Parthians, to be kicked out of his kingdom by them. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:351} {in excerptis ab. Heurico. Valesio, edit. p. 670.}
6613. Caius sent Petronius as the successor to Vitellius to Syria. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:494>} His full name was Publius Petronius. {Philo, Caius} {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 6. <1:520>} (Strabo mentions him also. See note on 3983 AM <<5364>>.) He was not Lucius Petronius who died long before this time) whom Valerius Maximus mentions was born of low parentage and rose to the level of an equestrian {Valerius Maximus, l. 4. c. 7.} as Baronius thought. {Baronius, 41 AD num. 4.}
6614. Vitellius came to Caius and escaped death. He composed himself as more humble than his rank. He fell at Caesar's feet and burst out crying and called him a god and worshipped him. He vowed that if he should escape this punishment, he would sacrifice to him. He so mollified and appeased Caesar, that he not only allowed him to live, but counted him among his best friends. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:351} He was the first that taught Caius to be worshipped as a god. Vitellius was quite good in flattering. When he was returned from Syria, he dared not come into Caius' presence, but with his face turned around he fell prostrate on the ground. {Suetonius, Vitellius, c. 2.} Later when Caius affirmed that he talked with the Moon goddess, he asked Vitellius if he had not seen him when he was accompanied with the goddess. Vitellius with his eyes cast down as astonished and trembling, replied in a low voice that it was permitted only for the gods to see one another. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:351} Vitellius made this beginning. Although he had governed the provinces according to the virtues of his ancestors, he excelled all men in flattery. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:351} {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 32.}
6615. Then Caius made himself priest and took his horse as colleague in his priesthood. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:355} At Miletus in Asia he ordered a temple to be built to him. He selected that city ahead of the others because he said that Ephesus worshipped Diana and Pergamos and Smyrna were dedicated to Augustus and Tiberius. The real reason was that he desired to get for himself that large and beautiful temple which the people of Miletus had built to Apollo. {*Dio, 1. 59. 7:351,353} {in excerptis. Valesii. p. 670. 673.} He purposed also to finish the oracle Didymena at Miletus. {Suetonius, Caligula, c. 21.}
4043a AM, 4752 JP, 39 AD
6616. Strangers from of the neighbouring countries had crept into Jamnia, a city of Judea that was very populous. They always tried to do something against the Jewish customs. When they heard how much Caius desired to be worshipped as a god and what a good friend he was to the country of the Jews, they immediately built an altar of clay bricks to vex the Jews. The Jews were scornful and destroyed the altar. Their adversaries accused the Jews before Capito the holy quaester, who had the oversight of the tributes in Judea. He wrote to Caius and aggravated and amplified the business. Caius ordered that to replace the destroyed brick altar in Jamnia, they should erect in the temple of Jerusalem a large image in honour of him all in gold. He followed the advice of Helicon an Egyptian and Apelles of Askelon a tragedian. Caius sent letters to Petronius, the governor of Syria, detailing the dedication of the statue. He was to march with half the army (appointed for defence against the seditions of the kings and countries of the east) from the Euphrates River against the Jews. He was to accompany the statue not necessarily so that the dedication would be more majestic but so that if anyone resisted, he could be immediately executed. The statue was not sent from Italy neither was Petronius commanded to take any troops from Syria otherwise some sudden sedition would have happened about the violation of the Jewish laws. Petronius ordered a statue to be made closer by and sent for the best craftsman from Phoenicia and found the materials and a place where they could make it at Sidon. {Philo, Caius}
6617. In the meantime, he gathered as large an army as he could and with two legions wintered at Ptolemais. He intended to prosecute the war in the beginning of the spring. He sent a letter to Caius who commended his industry and advised him to use all force in this and subdue the stubbornness of that country. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 11. <c. 8. 1:494>}
4043b AM, 4753 JP, 40 AD
6618. In a dispute that arose between the Jews and the Greeks who lived in Alexandria, three chosen ambassadors on either side were sent to Caius. Philo who was most famous, headed the embassy of the Jews. Apion headed the Greek embassy. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 10. <c. 8. 1:493>} He was born at Oasis in Egypt and wished to be called an Alexandrian because he was made a citizen of that place. {Josephus, Apion, l. 2. <1:795>} Pliny {Pliny, Natural History, l. 37. c. 5} stated that he was surnamed by some as the "after Conqueror." Pliny added these things about him in his preface to his whole work to Titus Vespasian:
``Apion the grammarian, he whom Tiberius Caesar called the symbol of the world, whereas he might rather be called the drum, wrote that they were immortalized by him to whom he composed any thing.
6619. He wrote a most lying book against the Jews to which Josephus replied in his second book against Apion. For the first book was against other slanderers of the Jews.
6620. The ambassadors of the Jews (whom Philo stated to be five at the end of the embassy written by himself and not three as Josephus stated) sailed to Caius in the middle of winter to entreat him that he would stop those wrongs which they suffered. They gave him a record containing the list of all the calamities and the petition against them taken from that larger petition which the Jews had sent him by their King Agrippa. However, their adversaries won the favour of Helicon the Egyptian, who was the prefect of the emperor's chamber. They did this not so much with money as with the hope of future honours which they promised to give him when Caius came to Alexandria. When the Jewish ambassadors desired to pacify and appease Caius, they were not allowed access to him. {Philo, Caius}
6621. At first Caius concealed his hatred against the Jews and received their ambassadors in Mars' field. As he came from his mother's gardens, he greeted them with a cheerful countenance and with his right hand, he made a sign as though he would be kind to them. He sent Obulus to them, who was the master of the ceremonies. Caius promised them that he would take care of their cause when he had time. Later when he came to visit the gardens of Mecenas and Lamia, which were nearby the other garden and the city, the ambassadors were brought in and humbly did their reverence to Caius. They greeted him by the name of Augustus and he smilingly asked them:
``Are you the ones who are hated of the gods, who alone despise me who is declared a god by the confession of all men and had rather worship your unnamed thing?
6622. Then he held up his hands to heaven and burst into a speech that was not lawful to be heard much less to utter in the same words. The Jews' adversaries then greatly rejoiced and called him by all the names of the gods. When Isidorus, a bitter Sycophant, saw how he was pleased with these titles, he said:
``You would, O my Lord more detest them and all their country, if you knew their impiety and malice against you. For all men kill sacrifices of vows for your health while they only refrained to offer sacrifice.
6623. Then the ambassadors cried out with one consent:
``O my Lord Caius, we are falsely accused, we have sacrificed hecatombs. We have not as the custom of some is, to bring a little blood to the altar and then carry the flesh home to feast on. We have committed whole sacrifices to be burned with the holy fire and that three times. First, when you became emperor, again when you escaped a great sickness at which all the world was sorrowful and thirdly, as a vow for your victory over Germany.
6624. Caius repled:
``Well say it were so that you offered sacrifice but to another and to me certainly you did no sacrifices.
6625. Then an horror seized on the ambassadors who were terrified at his last words. In the meantime, Caius went about the villages and the halls and parlours both below and above stairs, where also he asked the ambassadors particularly: (??)
``Why they forbid swine's flesh and what right the cities of Alexandria pretended. (??)
6626. Finally, setting aside his fierceness, he said:
``These men seem to me not to be so wicked, as miserable, that cannot persuade themselves that I am partaker of the divine nature.
6627. He immediately left and ordered the ambassadors to leave. {*Philo, Caius, c. 28. 1:774}
6628. Caius gave the tetrarchy of his father-in-law Herod (who was banished to Lyons in Gaul) to Agrippa when he returned from his kingdom. For when he had reigned three years in the tetrarchy of Philip, in the fourth year Herod's kingdom was given to him. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. ult. <c. 7. 1:493>??} Philo wrote:
``You have given the kingdom to me which could be no happier fortune to a mortal and which being at first but one region, you have enlarged by the addition of Trachonitis and Galilee. {Philo, Caius}
6629. Petronius convened the leaders of the Jewish priests and magistrates, to tell them the commands of Caius. He was to erect Caius' statue and dedicate it in their temple. He urged them to bear patiently the decrees of his emperor and cautioned them of the imminent danger that would ensue upon their disobedience. The whole power of the Syrian army was ready to make havock of them and their country. At the first mention of these things they were so shocked, they had not a word to say but poured out rivers of tears, ripping out their hair and pulled their beards in a most mournful way. However, those of Jerusalem and all the surrounding country that heard this, came flocking together with one consent and publicly mourned. They in one group, left their houses, towns, and citadels desolate and continued their march until they came to Phoenicia where Petronius was. At first they made such a doleful and so deep a noise that those that were nearby, could not hear or be heard for it. Calamitous times instructed what was to be done. They were organised into six ranks or orders of old men, young men and boys, of old women, wives and maids. When they saw Petronius on an high place, all the ranks, as if by a general command fell prostrate on the ground and howled as it were in a mournful tone. When they were ordered to rise, they could barely be persuaded to. Finally when they did, they cast dust on themselves and hung their hands behind them like condemned persons. They came before him and made their pitiful complaint and supplication. Petronius and all that sat with him were very much moved. When he had consulted about the matter, he ordered letters sent to Caius. He told him that the dedication of the statue was deferred. The workmen needed time to finish the colossus and time was needed to gather grain for such an expedition. It was reported that Caius had intended to go to Egypt. The grain was then fully ripe and it was feared that the Jews would take the loss so heavily of their religion that they would not value their own lives and waste and burn up all the harvest throughout the fields and mountains in their desperation. {*Philo, Caius, c. 32,33. 1:778-780}
6630. When Caius had received the letters, he concealed his anger to Petronius for he very much feared the governors because they had the power to create seditions. This was especially true of those in large provinces with numerous armies like the province of Syria which extended to the Euphrates River. Thus by his letters he appeased Caius who seemed to applaud his providence and dexterity in foreseeing future problems. Caius ordered that when the harvest was over, he should dedicate the statue without delay. {*Philo, Caius, c. 34. 1:780,781}
6631. The ambassadors of the Alexandrian Jews received the message that Caius had ordered his colossus to be erected at the innermost entrance of the temple and entitled the "New Jupiter." This news terrified them. They entered into the conclave all together and deplored the public as well as their private calamity. They hoped that God would not abandon them, who had so often delivered that country from ruin. {Philo, Caius}
6632. When Agrippa came in his usual manner to greet Caius, he looked sternly at him and said:
``Your good and honest citizens, who alone of all mankind think it scornful to have Caius for a god, even take a course in likelihood to bring destruction upon themselves by their contumacy. When I ordered the statue of Jupiter to be dedicated in their temple, they ran wholly from the city not like suppliants indeed but truly despisers of my commands.
6633. By these words Agrippa was so struck with horror that he trembled and his knees knocked together, he would have surely fallen to the ground had not the bystanders supported him. They were ordered to carry him home in that condition. By the suddenness of the events, Agrippa had lost his memory and was grown quite stupid and senseless. However, Caius was the more exasperated against the country of the Jews and said:
``If Agrippa, who is my close friend and obliged to me by so many benefits, is so attached to his country customs that he cannot endure they should be violated so much as by my word only but faints, what is to be expected from them who have no tie to restrain them? {*Philo, Caius, c. 35. 1:781,782}
6634. When Agrippa was come to himself, he wrote a very long letter to Caius on the behalf of his country. {Philo had a copy of it in his book) He closed with this epilogue:
``What will my countrymen or anyone else say of me? For either it will follow that I betrayed my country or I must be blotted from the list of your friends. Which of the two can be more unhappy? For before I was your close friend and now I shall be considered a traitor if I do not keep my country from indemnity nor the temple sacred. For you have the power for protection of men. If in anything I am offensive to you, do me the favour not to bind me (as Tiberius) but lest I should remain in fear of bonds, kill me immediately. For what need have I then of life when as the hope of my welfare wholly rests on your favour. {Philo, Caius, c. 36,37 1:782-787}
6635. Caius seeming to be somewhat appeased by these letters and replied more mildly and granted to Agrippa a great favour that the statue should not be dedicated. He wrote the same to Petronius, the governor of Syria that he cause no sedition in the temple of the Jews. Lest this favour should seem too generous, he added some terror and wrote:
``If anyone shall please in the other province or anywhere outside the metropolis in any other city, to dedicate any temple or altar to me, whoever shall oppose it, let them either be immediately executed or sent to me.
6636. But divine providence so ordered it so that none in any of the other provinces planned to do this. {*Philo, Caius, c. 52. 1:787}
6637. When the pestilence grew very severe at Babylon, a great number of the Jews left for Seleucia. More arrived five years later from Neerda, (which is a city of Babylon on an island in the Nile River and has an academy of the Jews. In Syriac it is called a[dÄrhb as if one should say:)
``The river of knowledge.
6638. Now at Seleucia, the Greeks and Syrians were always at odds but the Greek faction was too strong for the Syrians. Since the arrival of the Jews, the Syrians made their friendship and became the stronger party. In addition, they still increased in warlike and resolute men. Therefore when the Greeks saw they were becoming weaker and did not know how to change the situation, they made all the friendship they could to have a peace mediated between them and the Syrians. This thing was easily obtained. For the chief men on both sides were involved and they concluded and confirmed a peace on the condition they should both persecute the Jews. They attacked them by surprise and killed 50,000 men so that none escaped unless they were saved by the mercy of some friends or relatives. They escaped to Ctesiphon, a Greek city near Seleucia, where the king used to make his winter quarters and he stored most and the best part of his household belongings. They settled there and established themselves under the reverence of the regal majesty. The terror of the Babylonians and Seleucians spread over all those parts of Judea. Wherever any of the Syrians were in those parts with the Seleucians, they conspired the ruin of the Jews. Hence it came to pass that many fled to Neerda and Nisibis and had security because the cities were strongly fortified, although otherwise they were occupied by very warlike people. {Joseph. l. 18. c. ult. <c. 9. 1:501,502>}
6639. Caius triumphantly entered Rome on his birthday (which was the last of the month of August.) {Suetonius, Caligula, c. 43.}
4044a AM, 4753 JP, 40 AD
6640. When the Alexandrian delegates appeared before Caius, Apion accused the Jews of many things and they did not give Caesar his due respect. All the countries built temples and altars to Caius and worshipped him with equal honour with the rest of their deities. Only the Jews thought it scornful to build altars to him or swear by the name of Caesar. When he had alleged these and what other matters he thought would exasperate Caius, Philo prepared to answer him. Before he could, he was interrupted by Caesar who ordered him to get out and was so enraged that Philo barely escaped without harm. After Philo was put out, he encouraged those who were with him. Although Caius was angry in his words, yet they might be assured that God would defend and provide for them, in spite of all that Caius could do. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 10. <c. 9. 1:494>} {Eusebius, History Eccles., l. 5.}
6641. Caius repented of the favour he had given the Jews. He ordered another colossus to be built at Rome of brass covered with gold. He left the statue alone at Sidon lest it should cause any sedition among the people. It was to be carried secretly by ship and be placed in the temple at Jerusalem before any were aware of it. This was to be done as they sailed into Egypt, for Caius had a great desire to see Alexandria. He took great care in preparing for his journey, because he intended to stay a long time. He was possessed that his deification which he dreamed of, would succeed in this city alone and from there the religion would spread to smaller cities. Thus Philo wrote, who was very well acquainted with these things. {Philo, Caius} Tacitus should be amended:
``They were ordered by Caesar to place his statue in their temple and they chose rather to take up arms. The death of Caesar ended the rebellion. {Tacitus, Histories, l. 5. c. 9.}
6642. Apelles from Askelon who incited Caius against the Jews was punished for some other crimes he committed. Caius had him bound and racked in a most tormenting and delaying manner with some intermissions to make it the more painful. {*Philo, Caius, c. 30. 1:776}
6643. Caius was admonished by the Antiatinian lots to beware of Cassius. Cassius Longinus was then proconsul of Asia and was suspected because he was of the family of Cassius, one of the murderers of Caesar. Caius ordered him to be brought bound to him and condemned him to death. He forgot the Chaereas, who a little later killed him, was also called Cassius. {Suetonius, Caligula, c. 57.} {*Dio, l. 59. 7:359}
6644. Apollonius the Egyptian, who at home foretold what should become of Caius, was dragged before Caius at Rome the day before his death. (Suetonius says this was January 23rd, (9th calends of February) {Surtonius, Caligula, l. 58.}) His punishment was postponed and he escaped death when Caius died first. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:359}
6645. Caligula reigned three years, ten months eight days or {Suetonius, Caligula, l. 59.} {Clements Alexandria, Stromatum, l. 1} or rather 9 months and 28 days. {*Dio, l. 59. 7:362} In whose place, his uncle Claudius Caesar, the son of Drusius, was declared emperor by the praetorian guard.
6646. King Agrippa heard that the empire was forced upon Claudius by the soldiers. With much adieu in getting through the multitude, he came to Claudius and found him troubled and desirous to resign his place to the senate. Agrippa dispelled his fears and encouraged him to go on courageously and retain the empire. Agrippa was called by the senate and he pretended that he knew nothing of the business and arrived as if he had been prepared to dine. He asked them what was done concerning Claudius and they told him the truth and asked his advice. He said he would forsake no danger that might be for the dignity of the senate and that he thought the best way was to send one to Claudius who might persuade him to lay down his authority. He offered to be a part of that embassy. When Agrippa was sent with others to Claudius, he told him plainly the fearful condition the senate was in and advised him to answer like a prince. Agrippa was the reason that Claudius was more mild to the senate than he would have been. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 3. <c. 4. 1:516,517>}
6647. After Claudius was confirmed in the empire, he sent Mithridates of Iberia (whom Caius had kept in bonds) home to receive his kingdom. He gave to another Mithridates who was descended from that great Mithridates, the kingdom of Bosphorus, except a part of Cilicia which he gave to Polemon. {*Dio, l. 60. 7:387}
6648. Claudius enlarged Agrippa's kingdom. He had helped him to get the empire and was then at Rome. Claudius also gave him the honours of a consul. He gave his brother Herod praetorian honours and a certain principality (that is of Chalcis) and permitted them to go into the senate and to thank to the senators. {*Dio, l. 60, 7:387}
6649. Claudius also proposed an edict whereby he confirmed Agrippa in the kingdom formerly granted him by Caius. He praised his endeavour and his industry and added Judea and Samaria to his kingdom. These, formerly belonged to the kingdom of his grandfather Herod. These therefore he restored as due to the family. Abila and the regions around the Libanus Mountain which was Lysanias' and belonged to the emperor. He gave these also to Agrippa. There was a league between the king and the people of Rome cut in brass and placed in the middle of the forum of the city. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519>}
6650. Claudius released Alexander Lysimachus of Alabarcha, his old friend, and formerly procurator to his mother Antonia, whom Caius in his anger had committed to bonds. Bernice, the daughter of Agrippa was betrothed to his son, Marcus (Concerning this see {Ac 25:13-23}) who died while married to her as her first husband. The king gave her to his brother Herod, after getting the kingdom of Chalcis from Claudius for him. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519>}
6651. He bestowed Commagena and a larger part of Cilicia on Antiochus whom Caius had deprived of his kingdom. {*Dio, l. 60. 7:387} {Joseph. l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519>}
6652. Helicon the Egyptian, who was master of the bedchamber to Caius and the man who most incited him against the Jews, was executed by Claudius. {Philo, Caius, c. 30. 1:776} Philo's book ironically was entitled "De virutibus" (for in it the wickedness of Caius was clearly set out.) Philo was said at the command of Claudius to read it before the whole senate. Later, the Romans so liked this and his other works, that they thought them worthy as precious monuments to be set up in their public library. {Eusebius, History Ecclesiast, l. 2. c. 17.} Among his writings were five books of the miseries the Jews endured under the empire of Caius of which three were lost. {Eusebius, History Ecclesiast, l. 2. c. 5.} The book about Flaccus and Philo's embassy to Caius still survive.
6653. After Caius was murdered, the Jews who under him were much oppressed by the Alexandrians, were encouraged and took up arms. Claudius ordered the governor of Egypt that he should appease that sedition. By the entreaty of Agrippa, the king of Judea and Herod, the king of Chalcis, Claudius sent this edict to Alexandria:
``I will that their rites be not infringed by the madness of Caius and that they shall have full power and liberty to persevere in their father's religion and worship. I order both parties, as much as in them lies, to live peaceably one toward another and to endeavour to prevent all distractions or seditions of state between them. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519>}
6654. At the entreaty of these two kings when he was for the second time designed consul (the first year of his reign), Claudius permitted the Jews in Alexandria and his whole empire to live according to their own laws and the customs of their ancestors. Along with this, he advised them that under this grace, they should live the more modestly and warily and that they should not abuse the religions of the other countries. They should be content quietly to enjoy their own customs and traditions. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519,520>} When the Jews grew so numerous at Rome, the city could scarcely hold them without tumults. He did not eject them but forbid those who lived after their own laws to hold meetings. Also he disbanded the clubs which Caius had allowed and abolished the taverns where they met and drank. {*Dio, l. 60. 7:383}
6655. Through his letters, Claudius commended Agrippa to all the governors of the provinces. He sent King Agrippa into his own kingdom to take care of it. Agrippa made a very large great expedition and came to Jerusalem and paid his vows. He omitted nothing prescribed by the law. He ordered many Nazarites to be shaven and hung up in the holy temple over the treasury, a gold chain which he had received from Caius, as a memorial of his many miseries and happy deliverances by God. When he had duly performed his vows to God, he removed Theophilus, the son of Ananius, from the high priesthood and appointed Simon surnamed Cantharus in his place. Simon was the son of Boethus whose daughter Herod the Great had married. He gained the good will and gratitude of the people at Jerusalem by remitting a tribute to them which they annually paid from every house. He made Silas master over all the militia, who was his constant companion in all his difficulties and plans. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 5. <c. 6. 1:522>}
6656. A little after this, certain rash young men of the Doris people, under pretence of religion, erected a statue to Caesar in the temple at Jerusalem. Agrippa, the king of the Jews, was very angry and immediately went to Petronius into Syria and complained of the impudent boldness of them. Petronius was equally offended by this impious action and that it went directly against the laws of the empire. He wrote very sharply to the magistrates of the Doris people that they should send those bound to him whoever they were, who dared do such actions which were so contrary to the emperor's edicts. He ordered them to never let that happen again. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 5, 6. <c. 6. 1:520,521>}
6657. At Caesarea, Cornelius who was a Roman centurion of a company which belonged to the Italian band, favoured the Jewish religion and studied it. He was uncircumcised. (The Hebrews usually called such people, "Proselytes of the Gate", and the "Godly of the Nations".) About the ninth hour of the day (3 pm), he was ordered by an angel who appeared to him, to send for Simon Peter. Simon had stayed a long time at the house of Simon a tanner. Cornelius obeyed the command and sent two of his household servants and a godly soldier who was one of those who were constantly with him. {Ac 10:1-8 9:43}
6658. The next day as they journeyed and came near the city, Peter ascended to the housetop to pray about the sixth hour (noon). While he was waiting for dinner to be prepared, he became hungry. He saw a large linen sheet coming down from heaven full of all kinds of animals. He was ordered to freely eat without regard to what he ate. By this object lesson, Peter was taught that the Gentiles were not to be considered unclean. The next day, Peter arrived at Caesarea with the men who were sent by Cornelius and six brethren who accompanied them from Joppa. Peter found at Cornelius' house, his whole family. They were converted to the faith in Christ and the Spirit of God descended on them all of his own accord without any laying on of hands by Peter. Then Peter baptized them into Christ. {Ac 10:9-48 11:5-17}
6659. The apostles and brethren who were at Judea and heard that the Gentiles also had received the Word of God. When Peter came to Jerusalem, there arose a contention between those who had been converted from Judaism to Christ and Peter because Peter had associated with uncircumcised persons and ate with them. When Peter had told them everything that had happened and proved it by the testimony of the six who were with him, they were satisfied. They glorified God who also had given repentance to life to the Gentiles. {Ac 11:1-18}
6660. King Agrippa removed Simon Cantheras from the high priesthood. When he would have given it to Jonathan, the son of Ananus, he declined from modesty and because he had held the office before. Jonathan recommended it be given to Matthias, his brother since he thought his brother was more worthy than himself. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 6. <1:521>}
6661. Vibius Marsus succeeded Petronius as governor in the province of Syria. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 6. <1:521>}
6662. Silas was the general to King Agrippa's cavalry. All along he had been faithful to him and shared every danger with him and was a very close friend of Agrippa. Silas began to desire equal honours with the king because of his close friendship. Sometimes he praised himself beyond all modesty and recalled the hard times they had gone through together. He did this so often that he very highly exasperated the king against him. Agrippa was so fed up that he removed Silas from his command and sent him bound to his own country to be kept. A little later, the king was to celebrate his birthday and he sent for Silas to attend the kingly feast. Silas returned such a churlish answer that the king left him with his keepers. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 7. <1:521,522>}
6663. King Agrippa now turned his attention to Jerusalem. He fortified the walls of the part which was called the new city (Bezethal), and made the gates wider and higher than they had been before. He did all this at the public expense. He would have completed the walls so that they would be impregnable by human force had not Marsus, the president of Syria, written letters to Claudius about this. The emperor suspected that the Jews were about to attempt some sedition and wrote earnestly to Agrippa that he should stop this work and he immediately obeyed. {Josephus, l. 19. c. 7. <1:522>}
6664. A door of faith was now opened to the Gentiles. The men of Cyprus and Cyrene who were scattered to Antioch after the martyrdom of Stephen and preached Christ to the Greeks. (It is Ellhnaj in the oldest book of Alexandria has it, not as the common edition Ellhnisaj) There was a large number who believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard this, they sent Barnabas there who admonished them all to stedfastly adhere to the Lord. A large company were added to the Lord. {Ac 11:20-24}
6665. A severe famine raged at Rome. Claudius provided plenty of provisions for the present need and also took care for the future. Since most of the grain and other provisions came from foreign lands and the mouth of Tiber had no good ports, Claudius built the port Ostia. {*Dio, l. 60. 7:393,395} After eleven years it was barely finished, although he kept 30,000 men working at it constantly. {Suetonius, Claudius, c. 20.}
6666. This famine happened in the second year of Claudius. There was a notable famine also in his eleventh year of which others have mentioned. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 12. c. 43.} {Suetonius, Claudius, c. 18.} {Orosius, l. 7. c. 6.} This was not that world wide famine which was foretold by Agabus. It began in the fourth year of Claudius as evident from history. {Eusebius, Chronicles} {Orosius, l. 7. c. 6.} This famine happened at the same time as Herod Agrippa's death. {Ac 12:23-25}
4046 AM, 4756 JP, 43 AD
6667. Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul. When he had located him, he brought him to Antioch. It came to pass that for a whole year, they met together in the church and taught a large multitude. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. This name was derived in Latin form and not from the Greek form of Christ. It seems to have been created by some Romans who were then at Antioch.
6668. About this time, the prophets went down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of these was Agabus who made known by the Spirit that there would come a severe famine in the whole world. {Ac 11:27,28}
6669. Claudius brought the Lycians again to his servitude who had revolted and killed many Romans. He added their country to the prefecture of Pamphylia. While he was examining this business in court, he asked in Latin a certain ambassador who was born of Lycian parents but born at Rome. When the ambassador did not understand Latin, Claudius deprived him of his Roman citizenship and said it was not fitting that he should be a Roman who could not speak Latin. {*Dio, l. 60. 7:411}
6670. King Agrippa build at enormous cost at Berytus a theatre, amphitheatre, baths and porches. He celebrated the dedication of them most sumptuously. He held shows in the theatre of all kinds of musical performances of the greatest variety. In the amphitheatre he held many gladiatorial games. Furthermore, because he desired to gratify and please the spectators, he had two troops of 700 criminals to be brought and to fight with each other. This presentation of war concurred as well to the punishment of the malefactors as to the delight of those who loved peace. So they were all killed by one another's mutual wounds. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. ult. <c. 7. 1:522>}
6671. At last, the kings came to Agrippa at Tiberius in Galilee, Antiochus of Commagene, Sampsigeranus of the Emesa, Cotys of the Lesser Armenia, Ptolemon of Pontus and his brother Herod, king of Calcis. While they were all together, Marsus, the governor of Syria also came. Therefore, Agrippa paid his due respects to the Romans and went to meet him even to the seventh road marker, (about a mile.) When Agrippa rode in the same chariot with his guests, Marsus distrusted the friendship of so many kings. Therefore he sent his messengers to every one in particular to depart without delay. Agrippa was most grievously offended by this so that he hated Marsus. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:523>} Agrippa very often solicited Claudius by his letters, to remove Marsus from being governor of Syria. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 20. c. 1. <l. 19. c. 8. 1:523>}
6672. Agrippa removed the high priesthood from Matthias, the son of Ananus, and gave it to Elioneus, the son of Cantheras. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. }
4047 AM, 4757 JP, 44 AD
6673. The famine foretold by Agabus increased and the Christians of Antioch, collected a gift for their friends who lived in Judea. They sent it by Barnabas and Saul after they preached for a whole year preached the word of the Lord to the people of Antioch. {Ac 11:26,29,30}
6674. About this time King Herod Agrippa, (as the Syriac paraphrase correctly called him) laid hands on them who belonged to the church {Ac 12:1} because they opposed the institutions and rites of their country of which Agrippa was a most religious observer. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. ult. <c. 6. 1:521>}
6675. Agrippa killed James, (the son of Zebedee) the brother of John with a sword. Ac 12:2 Clement Alexandria added from the tradition of his anscestors {Clement, Institutions, l. 7.} {*Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, l. 2. c. 9. 1:58} that the very same man who brought James into judgment became a Christian. He saw how freely he gave testimony of Jesus and that he publicly confessed he was a Christian in spite of having received most severe warnings. Therefore when they were brought both together for punishment, he desired James' forgiveness and James considered little of it and said:
``Peace be to you.
6676. James kissed him and so later they were both beheaded.
6677. When the king saw that the death of James pleased the people, he cast Peter into prison during the days of the feast of unleavened bread. He was guarded by four quaternions (sixteen) soldiers. Agrippa intended after the passover to being him out to the people. The church prayed daily for him and an angel of the Lord delivered him miraculously in the night. He went to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark where many met and prayed. After he told them of his deliverance that they might inform James, the son of Alphaeus and brother of our Lord, and the rest. Peter then went into another place. {Ac 12:3-17}
6678. Herod Agrippa was frustrated and in a rage he ordered the innocent keepers to be dragged to execution. He travelled down to Caesarea and stayed there. He was displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon whose land was not sufficient to maintain them (especially in that year of famine) and they were forced to seek sustenance from Galilee and other places under Herod's jurisdiction. Therefore, they came unanimously to him through the mediation of Blastus the king's chamberlain, whom they had made their friend and desired peace with him. A day was appointed and Herod in his royal attire, sat before the tribunal and made a speech to them. The people with acclamations shouted out that this was the voice of a god not a man. Immediately, an angel of the Lord smote him because he did not give the glory to God. He was eaten up by worms and he died. {Ac 12:18-23}
6679. The historian Josephus mentions this and added an owl appeared to him lest the prophecy of his German prophet would be void.
``When Agrippa had now finished the third year of his reign and was starting his fourth year, he went to Caesarea which was formerly called Strato's Tower. He solemnized some annual plays for Caesar's health which were attended by a large number of noble men and youngsters from all the province. On the second day of this celebrity, he went all attired with his princely robes. These were richly and intricately woven with silver, which by the reflection of the rising sun produced an angelical or extraordinary lustre. This struck reverence in the spectators. Immediately some wicked men shouted from the distance and greeted him as a god and desired that he would be propitious to them. Before this, they had only honoured him as a man but now they saw there was something more in him than human. He neither refused nor repelled this impious adulation. A little later, he looked up and saw over his head on owl sitting on a rope that was extended for some occasion. He immediately knew that as this which had been a token of his good fortune, was now a sign of his ruin and he was struck to the very heart. Later his belly began to torment him more and more grievously. Therefore he turned to his friends, he said. "Behold I who by your greeting was called god, am now ordered from this life. My certain fate gives the lie to your flattery. I whom you greeted as immortal, am forced to die. I must endure the wishes of providence, for I have not lived poorly nor so happily that all men may call me blessed." When he had said those things his pain grew worse and worse. Immediately those things were told around the country and the rumour went out that he was dying. Therefore immediately all the people with their wives and children were in sackcloth after their country's manner, praying to God for the health of their king. They made all places ring with their lamentations and howling. As the king was laying on a high bed and looked down and saw the people prostrate on their faces, he could not stop weeping. His pain lasted in great extremity and without intermission for five days time and then he died. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:523>}
6680. Josephus stated he reigned for seven years, four under Caius (less three or four months, for Caius himself did not rule four whole years) and three under Claudius (adding in like manner three or four months.) He stated that his yearly revenue came to 12,000,000 drachmas and because he was so noble and generous that this was not enough and he was forced to borrow money. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:524>}
6681. Before the king's death was known, Herod of the king of Chalcis and Chelcias, the general of the cavalry, conferred together and sent Aristo to kill Silas, their common enemy as if by Agrippa's orders. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:524>}
6682. Agrippa left only one son named Agrippa who was seventeen and was being educated at Rome with Claudius. He left three daughters, of whom Bernice was married to Herod her uncle at the age of sixteen and the other were still virgins. Mariamme was ten years old and was betrothed by her father to Julius Archelaus Epiphanes, the son of Antiochus, the son of Chelcias. Drusilla was six years old and betrothed to the king of the Commagenians. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. ult. <c. 9. 1:524>}
6683. When it was known for sure that Agrippa was dead, the people of Caesarea and Sebaste (two cities which were built by his father) acted like enemies of the dead prince. The common soldiers, with one consent, dragged his and his daughters' statues from of the palace and brought them into the brothels. They abused them in such calumnious ways that it is a shame to recount. They made feasts and banquets in all public places. They were very happy and adorned themselves with garlands and anointed their bodies. They sacrificed and made offerings to Charon and even worshipped one another for the joy they had by the death of the king. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. ult. <c. 9. 1:524>}
6684. The Word of God was sown, increased and multiplied. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem. When they had finished their ministry there, they took along with them John Mark. {Ac 12:24,25}
6685. Claudius deprived the Rhodians of their liberty because they had crucified some Romans. {*Dio, l. 60. p. 681.}
6686. When Claudius wanted to send the young Agrippa into his kingdom, to succeed his father, his freedman and friends, who could do much with him, dissuaded him. They said it was dangerous to commit so large a kingdom to so young a youth who had barely reached manhood. He was very unqualified to rule there since the kingdom required a large force of soldiers to keep it. Claudius could not deny that they spoke rationally and truly. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. ult. <c. 9. 1:524>} Although indeed their aim was at the prefectureship of that kingdom and by this to make themselves rich. Tacitus stated: {Tacitus, History, l. 5. c. 9.}
``When the kings had either all died or lost most of their territory, Claudius made Judah a prefecture to be governed by Roman equestrians or freedmen.
6687. Therefore Claudius made Cuspius Fadus, governor of Judea and all the kingdom of Agrippa, (which was much larger than the first Herod, his grandfather.) Claudius honoured the dead king in this in that he would not bring Marsus, his enemy, into his kingdom. He ordered Fadus to severely chastise the cities of Caesarea and Sebaste for their ingratitude to their dead king and the contumely against his daughters who were still alive. He wanted the troops from Caesarea and Sebaste, along with the fifth cohort to make war in Pontus. He would substitute in their place, soldiers chosen from the Romans who were ordered to defend Syria. Later, the soldiers sent an ambassador to Claudius and obtained permission to stay in Judea. In later times they were involved in the most grievous calamity to the Jews and sowed the seeds of that war which started when Florus was governor. {Josephus, Antiq. l. 19. c. fin. <c. 9. 1:524,525>}
6688. Josephus wrote {Josephus, Antiq., l. 20. c. 1. <1:525>} that Claudius moved Marsus as a favour to his dead friend, Agrippa and he made Cassius Longinus governor of Syria in his place. Tacitus stated this happened three years later.
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6689. The Jews who lived beyond the Jordan River, had a dispute with the Philadelphians about the limits of the town Mia, a place full of most warlike people. The Jews who lived on the other side of the river, had taken up arms without the knowledge or consent of their rulers and killed many of the Philadelphians. When Caspius knew this, he was greatly offended that they did not let him decide the matter if the Jews thought that the Philadephians had done them any wrong rather than so rashly take up arms on their own accord against them. Therefore, he captured three of the ringleaders and had them bound. He executed Hannibal and banished Amaram and Eleazar. Not long after this, he took and condemned Tholomy to death, who was the leader of the robbers and had done many wrongs to Idumea and Arabia. He tried to eliminate all the robbers from the whole country of Judea. {Josephus, l. 20. c. 1. <1:525>}
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