THE ANNALS THE WORLD

[Soldier4Christ]

6407. He taught in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bent over. He healed her on the sabbath and defended the deed against the indignation of the ruler of the synagogue. Then he likened the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed and to leaven. {Lu 13:10-21}

6408. He went through all the cities and villages teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem for the feast of dedication. {Lu 13:22}

6409. One asked him if there would be only a few who would be saved. He replied that they must strive to enter in at the narrow gate. {Lu 13:23-30}

6410. On the same day, some of the Pharisees came to him and warned him to leave the area for Herod wanted to kill him. He gave that resolute answer. {Lu 13:31-35}

6411. It came to pass that he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to dine with him. There was one there who had the dropsy, whom he healed. He defended the deed, although done on the sabbath. He spoke a parable to them that were bidden to a feast and Jesus instructed the Pharisee who had invited him to dine. {Lu 14:1-14}

6412. When one of them who dined with him, heard these things, he said to him that blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Jesus replied to him and propounded the parable of the great supper and of each excuse that those made who were invited. {Lu 14:15-24}

6413. There was a great multitude that went with him and he turned and preached to them, that life itself is to be surrendered for Christ. He propounded to them the parables of the man who was about to build a tower and of the king going to war. {Lu 14:25-35}

6414. There came to him all the publicans and sinners to hear him but the scribes and Pharisees murmured. He spoke to them the parables about the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. {Lu 15:1-32}

6415. He told the disciples the parable of the unjust steward who was accused to his master and made a practical application from it. The Pharisees heard all these things and they were covetous and derided him. He then preached against them and taught many other things and told about the rich man who fared sumptuously and of Lazarus the beggar. {Lu 16:1-31}

6416. Jesus warned his disciples of those who cause offences. He taught that their brother who sinned against them, was to be forgiven. {Lu 17:1-9}

6417. Then the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. He replied about the power of faith and by the parable of the servant who came in after working, immediately ministered to his master. He showed them that they were unprofitable servants when they had done all that they were commanded for they had have done no more than what was their duty. {Lu 17:5-10}

6418. It came to pass as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. He entered a certain village and ten lepers met him. After they were healed and were going to the priest as Jesus commanded, only one of them came back to Jesus to thank him and he was a Samaritan. {Lu 17:11-19}

6419. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God will come. Jesus replied that the kingdom of God will not come with observation but was within. He told his disciples that according to the days of Noah and Lot, so shall be the day in which the Son of Man shall be revealed, but he must first suffer many things. {Lu 17:20-37}

6420. He spoke to them a parable that they should always pray. He used the example of a widow who interceded with an unjust judge and contrasted this with God who is a just avenger. {Lu 18:1-8}

6421. He spoke also to some who thought that they were just and despised others. He told the parable about the Pharisee and publican praying in the temple. {Lu 18:9-14}

6422. At Jerusalem in the feast of the dedication in the winter time, Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. The Jews came around him and asked how long he would keep them in suspence as to who he really was. He pointed to his miracles and said that he and his Father are one. Again they took up stones to stone him. He defended himself to be God, by the scriptures and by his works. They tried again to take him but he escaped from their hands. {Joh 10:22-39}

6423. He went again beyond the Jordan River into the place where John first baptized and stayed there and many came to him. As was his custom, he taught them and healed them and many believed on him there. {Mr 10:1 Mt 19:1,2}

6424. The Pharisees came to him and tempted him and asked if it was lawful for a man to put away his wife for any reason. Jesus denied it and replied to the Pharisees who objected and said the bill of divorce was commanded by Moses. Jesus taught them the true meaning of marriage. When his disciples heard this, they said it was better for a man not to marry. {Mr 10:2-12 Mt 19:3-12}

6425. They brought to him little children that he should lay his hands on them and pray. His disciples forbid them and Jesus rebuked them. After he had laid his hands on the children and blessed them, he departed from there. {Lu 18:15-17 Mr 10:13-16 Mt 19:13-15}

6426. As Jesus was leaving on the way, a rich young ruler met him and asked him what he had to do to inherit eternal life and he called Jesus, Good Master." Jesus spoke concerning the title he gave him and pointed him to the commandments. He replied that he had kept them all and observed them and Jesus loved him. However, he told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor. He sent him away very sorry. Jesus inveighed bitterly against covetous rich men. Peter replied that they left everything to follow him. Jesus made notable promises to all who followed him especially to his twelve apostles. He added that many who were first would be last. He instructed them by a parable of labourers going into a vineyard for many were called but few were chosen. {Lu 18:18-30 Mr 10:17-31 Mt 19:16-30}

6427. Lazarus of Bethany was sick. Therefore, his sisters sent to Jesus to tell him of his sickness. As soon as he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was but later he told his disciples to go again into Judea. They reminded him that just recently the Jews tried to stone him there and and did he really want to go back again. Jesus replied that Lazarus sleeps, (speaking of his death, not of his sleep.) and that they should go to him. Thomas added that we may die with him. {Joh 11:1-16}

[Soldier4Christ]

6428. When Jesus came near Bethany, he found that Lazarus had been buried four days in the grave. Martha came to meet him, they talked about the resurrection. Mary heard of it and came quickly to him. When Jesus saw her weep, he also wept and went to the grave. He asked them to remove the stone and thanked his Father for hearing him. Jesus called Lazarus from his grave. Thereupon many believed on him and some went to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done.

6429. Therefore the Pharisees convened a council in which Caiaphas prophesied about Jesus. From that day on, they consulted together how they might put him to death. They ordered that if anyone knew where he was, he should tell them so they could take him. Therefore Jesus did not walk publicly among the Jews but went into a city called Ephraim and stayed there with his disciples. {Joh 11:17-54}

6430. As they were on the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus went ahead of them and they were afraid. He again took the twelve and began to tell them what things should happen to him but they did not understand. {Lu 18:31-34 Mr 10:32-34 Mt 20:17-19}

6431. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and their mother came to him and asked that they might sit in the kingdom, one on the right hand and the other on the left of Jesus. Jesus rebuked them and the rest were upset with those two disciples. Jesus admonished them all that he who would be great and first among them, must be the minister and servant of all. {Mr 10:35-45 Mt 20:20-28}

6432. It came to pass when he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat begging by the way side. When he asked who it was that passed by and he was told it was Jesus of Nazareth, he earnestly implored his mercy even though the crowd rebuked him. Jesus called to him and he received his sight and followed him glorifying God. {Lu 18:35-43}

6433. Jesus entered and passed through Jericho and saw Zacchaeus in a sycomore tree and told him he needed to stay at his house that day. {Lu 19:1-10}

6434. As they left the city of Jericho, a large crowd following him. He restored the sight to two blind men (of which one was Bartimaeus,) and they followed him. {Mr 10:46-52 Mt 20:29-34}

6435. When they heard these things and because they were near Jerusalem, they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. As they went, Jesus spoke the parable of the noble man that went into a far country who gave his ten servants ten pounds to invest until he returned. When he returned, he determined who had gained the most by trading. He rewarded each of them according to the proportion of their gain. {Lu 19:11-27}

6436. The passover was near and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the passover to purify themselves. {Joh 11:55-57}

6437. Therefore six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany. They prepared a supper for him and Lazarus sat with him. Mary anointed his feet and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Jesus rebuked the criticism of Judas against her. Many people came there not only for Jesus' sake, but that they might see Lazarus. However, the chief priests consulted how they might put Lazarus to death also because many of the Jews believed on Jesus because of him. {Joh 12:1-11}

6438. When he had thus spoken, he went ahead and ascending up to Jerusalem. It came to pass when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the Mount of Olives (the 29th day of March) he sent two of his disciples for an ass colt that was tied. (Matthew makes mention of the she ass also.) {Lu 19:28-35 Mr 11:1-7 Mt 21:1-7}

6439. Therefore, they brought the colt to Jesus and put their garments on the colt and set Jesus on the colt. Many people met him who came to the feast. Many cast their garments in the way and others cut down branches of trees and spread them in the way. When he came to the descent of the Mount of Olives, the crowd who went before him and those who followed behind cried, hosanna to the son of David. Some of the Pharisees told him to rebuke his followers. He replied he would not. Therefore, the Pharisees said among themselves that the whole world was gone after him. {Joh 12:12-19 Lu 19:36-40 Mr 11:8-10 Mt 21:8,9}

6440. When he came near and saw the city, he wept over it. he predicted her utter destruction. When he entered into Jerusalem all the city was stirred and asked who he was. {Lu 19:41-44 Mr 11:10,11}

6441. Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out those who bought and sold in it and healed the blind and the lame in it. He justified the children who cried hosanna in the temple against the objections of the Pharisees and scribes. He taught daily in the temple they who heard him, were very attentive. However, the chief priests and elders of the people tried to destroy him. {Lu 19:45-48 Mr 11:11 Mt 21:12-16}

6442. Some Greeks who came to worship at the feast wanted to see him. He told those that told him about these Greeks about his passion. He called on his Father and received an answer from heaven. Some thought it was thunder and others thought an angel spoke to him. He again spoke of the lifting of the Son of Man from the earth. He answered those who asked him who was the Son of Man? After he left there, he hid himself from them. When it was evening, he went with the twelve to Bethany. Although he had done so many miracles among them, they still did not believe on him that the word of Isaiah might be fulfilled. However, many of the rulers believed on him but did not confess him publicly for fear of the Pharisees. Jesus preached concerning faith in himself. Joh 12:20-50 Mr 11:17

6443. The next morning when he came from Bethany, he was hungry and saw a fig tree which only had leaves on it. He cursed it and it immediately withered. They came to Jerusalem and entered into the temple. He again expelled those who bought and sold and did not want anyone to carry a vessel through the temple. He taught them concerning faith in himself. However, the chief priests sought how they might destroy him for they feared him because all people were astonished at his doctrine. When evening came, Jesus left the city. {Mr 11:12-19 Mt 21:18,19}

6444. The next morning as they passed by the fig tree, they saw that it was dried up from the roots which Peter noted. Jesus preached to them about the power of faith especially in prayers. They again came to Jerusalem and as he walked in the temple and taught the people, the chief priests, elders and scribes came to him and asked by whose authority he did these things. Jesus replied by asking them about John's baptism. He spoke to them the parable of the two sons and asked them which of the two did the will of the father and then applied it to them. He also told the parable of the vineyard that was rented out to husbandmen and of their killing of the heir of the vineyard and made an application of this also. Therefore, from that hour, they sought to take him but they feared the people for the people thought he was a prophet. Again he propounded to them the parable of the king's son and the refusals and excuses of some that were bidden and the wickedness and punishments of others, especially of him who was not wearing a proper wedding garment. Then the Pharisees went and took council how they might entangle him in his talk. Therefore they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians who asked if it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. They were astonished at his answer and left him and went their way. {Lu 20:1-26 Mr 11:13-12:37 Mt 21:19-22:46}

6445. The same day the Sadducees came to him and asked about a woman who had the seven brothers for her husband. They wanted to know who would be her husband in the resurrection. When the multitude heard his answer to prove the resurrection, they were astonished at his doctrine. Then a Pharisee, a lawyer, tempted him and asked which is the greatest commandment in the law? After Jesus had replied he asked the Pharisee whose son Christ is? No man was able to answer him a word neither dared any man from that day on ask him any more questions. {Lu 20:27-44}

[Soldier4Christ]

6446. Then Jesus spoke to the multitude and to his disciples about the scribes and Pharisees. He pronounced a woe eight times against them and spoke to the city of Jerusalem and accused her of cruelty and obstinacy and foretold her desolation. {Lu 20:45-47 Mr 12:38-40 Mt 23:1-39}

6447. As Jesus sat opposite the treasury, he commended a widow who cast in two mites more than those who cast in much more. {Lu 21:1-4 Mr 12:41-44}

6448. When he went out of the temple, his disciples showed him the buildings and its stones and he predicted its utter destruction. {Lu 21:5-36 Mr 13:1-37 Mt 24:1-51}

6449. As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, his disciples asked him when would these things happen and what would be the sign of his coming and the end of the world? He gave a lengthy reply concerning the sign and his coming. He warned them to watch and to be ready for they did not know the hour when the Lord would come. {Mr 13:1-37 Lu 21:1:36 Mt 24:1-51}

6450. He taught the same things by the parable of the ten virgins as by the parable of the talents given to the servants to invest. He described the judgment of this world (perhaps as a type of that) by setting the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left and passing sentence on each of them. By day, he taught in the temple but at night he went to the Mount of Olives. All the people came to him early in the morning and he taught them in the temple. {Lu 21:37,38 Mt 25:1-46}

6451. When Jesus had finished these sayings, he told his disciples that after two days was the passover and the Son of Man would be betrayed to be crucified. The Jewish leaders consulted together in the palace of the high priest about how they might kill Jesus. They agreed that it should not be done on the feast day, lest there by a riot. {Mr 14:1,2 Mt 26:1-5}

6452. When he was in the house eating with Simon the Leper, he defended a woman who poured an alabaster box of ointment on his head because his disciples murmured about this. He foretold his burial. {Mr 14:3-9 Mt 26:6-13}

6453. Then Satan entered into Judas who was to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders. {Lu 22:1-13 Mr 14:10,11 Mt 26:14-16}

The FOURTH PASSOVER
in which CHRIST, our PASSOVER, was
sacrificed, {1Co 5:7} and so
put an end to all the legal
sacrifices prefiguring this one.
The beginning of the fourth or middle year
of the last week of Daniel.
{Da 9:27}

6454. On the first day of unleavened bread, when the passover was slain (April 2nd) his disciples asked Jesus where they should prepare it. He sent Peter and John into the city and told them that they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. They should follow him to his house and ask the owner of it for the use of the guest chamber. They would find the guest chamber already furnished by the good man of the house. {Mr 14:12-16 Mt 26:17-19}

6455. In the evening Jesus went with the twelve disciples and ate supper. Jesus said that he had greatly desired to eat this passover with them before his sufferings. He took the cup and asked them to divide it among themselves. He said that he would no more eat of the passover or drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God would come. He also said that one of them would betray him. They began to be sorrowful and asked one by one, if it was he. Jesus replied that it was the man who dipped his hand with him in the dish. When Judas asked if it was him, Jesus said it was. {Lu 22:14-18 Mr 14:17-21 Mt 26:20-25}

6456. While they were eating, he instituted the sacrament of his body and blood which were symbolised by the bread and the wine. After he had drank the wine, he said that he would not drink of the fruit of the vine after this until he would drink it anew with them in the kingdom of his Father. He stated that the one who would betray him was eating with them. Then they began to enquire among themselves if anyone among them would do this. {Lu 22:19-23 Mr 14:22-25 Mt 26:25,26}

6457. There was also a dispute among them of who would be the greatest. After supper, Jesus arose and laid aside his garments. He took a towel and girded himself and began to wash and to wipe his disciple's feet. At first Peter refused to have this done to him but later he consented. After this, Jesus sat down and said that he had given them an example. Just as he had done, they should likewise wash one another's feet. Whoever would be the greatest among them, must become the least. He added moreover that he was not speaking about everyone for he knew whom he had chosen. When he had said these things, he was troubled in the spirit and said that one of them would betray him. Therefore his disciples looked at each other and were uncertain of whom he referred to. Peter beckoned to the beloved disciple that he should ask who it was. Jesus answered that it was the one to whom he gave the sop after dipping it. He gave it to Judas and told him to quickly do what he had to do. When Judas had received the sop, he went out immediately and it was night. {Joh 13:2-38 Lu 22:24-30}

6458. After Judas left, Jesus said that now was the Son of Man glorified and God was glorified in him. He admonished them of his sudden departure and of their mutual love one for another. He also said to Simon that Satan had desired to sift him as wheat. However, Jesus said he had prayed for him and that when he was converted, he was to strengthen his brethren. Peter too confidently replied that he would die for Jesus. Jesus replied that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed. Then Jesus told them all that he who has a purse let him take it and he who did not have a sword, go and buy one. They said they had two swords to which Jesus replied that it was enough. {Lu 22:31-38}

6459. Jesus anticipated their sorrow for his death and comforted them as he usually did. He answered the questions raised by Thomas, Philip and Judas, (who is also Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus, another of the sons of Alphaeus, and brother of James.) He promised them that the Holy Ghost would be their teacher and left his peace to them. Again he admonished them of his approaching death and of its joyful fruit. Then he said they should now leave. After they sang a hymn, they left for the Mount of Olives. {Joh 14:1-31 Mr 14:26 Mt 26:30}

6460. On their way, he told them the parable of the vine and the branches and exhorted them to bring forth fruit and to remain in the love of God toward them. They should have mutual love one toward another and to endure patiently the hatred of the world which also hated Christ himself. They should not be offended by persecution. Again he comforted them for the sorrow they had about his approaching death, by the promise of sending them the Comforter. He would be the Spirit of Truth and witness against the world and help them. He warned them that in a little while, they would not see him. They did not understand what he meant. He explained it to them and said that their predicted sorrow would be turned into joy just as a woman rejoices who gives birth to a son. He predicted his return to them and told them of the love of the Father toward them and by his willingness to hear their petitions that they would make in his name. He said that he came from the Father into the world and he would again leave the world to return to the Father. His disciples said they now understood what he meant and believed that he came from God. Jesus replied that the time was now come when they all would be scattered and Christ would be left alone. At last he concluded with a most divine prayer to the Father for the mutual benefit of his own and the Father's glory, for the apostles and the whole company of believers. {Joh 15:1-17:26}

[Soldier4Christ]

6461. When Jesus had spoken these things, he went with his disciples as was his custom and crossed over the brook Kidron to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus told them that all of them would be offended because of him that night. However, after he was risen again, he would go ahead of them into Galilee. Peter replied that although everyone would be offended, yet he would not be. Jesus told Peter that before the cock crew, he would deny him three times. To this both he and all the disciples replied that although they would die with him, they would never deny him. {Joh 18:1 Lu 22:39 Mr 14:27-31 Mt 26:31-36}

6462. Then they came into a place called Gethsemane where there was a garden. After Jesus had entered with his disciples, he told them to pray lest they fall into temptation. They were to sit there while he went away to pray. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him and began to be very sorrowful. He told them to stay there and watch. He went a little further about a stone's throw and kneeled down and prayed that this cup might pass from him. And there appeared an angel from heaven who strengthened him. Then he returned and found his disciples sleeping. He reprehended and admonished them and went the second time and prayed more earnestly. He was in an agony and he began to sweat as it were drops of blood. He came again and found them sleeping for sorrow for their eyes were heavy. He again admonished them and they did not know what to say. He then left them and went away again and prayed the same words. Then he returned to his disciples and told them to sleep and take their rest. The Son of Man was betrayed into the hands of sinners. He told them to get up and go for the man who betrayed him was close by. Lu 22:40-46 Mr 14:32-42 Mt 26:36-46

6463. While he was speaking, Judas arrived who knew the place, (because Jesus often went there with his disciples.) He brought with him the chief priests, Pharisees, captains of the temple, elders of the people, officers and a band sent from them. They came there with lanterns and torches and a large number with swords and staves. Judas had given a sign and said the one they were after would be the one he kissed. Judas immediately kissed Jesus. Jesus asked Judas why he came and would he betray the Son of Man with a kiss. Jesus who knew all things that would happen to him, went out to them and asked who they were after. They said they wanted Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus told them he was the one. They went backwards and fell to the ground. He asked them again and answered them as he did the first time and added that if they were only after him, to let the disciples go their way. They took him. When those who were around him saw what would happen they asked him if they should fight for him. Peter struck off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest's. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and if he wanted to, he could call down more than twelve legions of angels. He said that he should drink of the cup that his Father had given him and they should allow it to happen. Jesus touched Malchus' ear and healed him. Jesus asked the crowd why they came to him as if he were a thief with swords and staves. He told them that this was their hour and the power of darkness. Then all his disciples left him and fled. A certain young man (of their company) was laid hold on and left his linen cloth and fled naked from them. {Joh 18:3-11 Lu 22:47-53 Mr 14:43-52 Mt 26:47-56}

6464. They bound Jesus and brought him first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest, who had previously prophesied that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. All the chief priests, elders and scribes of the people were gathered together. Caiaphas asked Jesus concerning his disciples and his doctrine. Jesus said he had spoken publicly and to ask those that heard him. Therefore one of the officers struck him with a staff. Jesus asked him that if he had answered well, why did he hit him? Then all the council looked for false witnesses against him and could not find any. Finally two false witnesses came but their testimony disagreed with each other. Caiaphas asked Jesus to reply to what these witnesses said against him but Jesus said nothing. Then Caiaphas adjured him that he should say whether he was the Christ. Jesus answered that he was and they would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and coming in the clouds of heaven. Therefore they judged him guilty of death for this blasphemy. Then they mocked and spat on him. They cruelly beat him with buffets and staves. They covered his eyes and asked him who had hit him. They did many other things and they spoke reproachfully against him.

6465. Peter followed afar off to see the end of the matter. Another disciple accompanied him who was known to the high priest. He went with Jesus into the palace but Peter stood outside at the door whom that other disciple (who spoke to her who kept the door) had brought in. As Peter was warming himself at the fire that burned in the courtyard, (for it was cold) the maid who kept the door asked him and affirmed that he was one of his disciples. Peter denied it and claimed that he did not know him or what the maid spoke about. A little later, he went out into the porch and the cock crew. As he was going out another maid saw him and said to those that were there that Peter was with Jesus of Nazareth. Another person said to him that he was one of the disciples. Then Peter again denied it with an oath. About an hour later, those who stood by came and said to him that his accent gave him away. The cousin of Malchus who was among the rest said that he had seen Peter in the garden. While he was speaking, the cock crowed the second time. Then Jesus turned around and looked at Peter. Peter remembered the words of Jesus and went out and wept bitterly. {Joh 18:12-27 Lu 22:54-65 Mr 14:53-72 Mt 26:57-75}

6466. As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, chief priests and the scribes came together and led him into their council and asked Jesus if he was the Christ? He replied that they would not believe him nor answer his questions nor let him go. Jesus said he was the Son of God and they replied that they did not need any more witnesses. {Lu 22:66-71}

6467. Immediately in the morning, the whole multitude arose and led him bound to Pontus Pilate the governor, from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment. (April 3rd) They did not go into the judgment hall lest they would be defiled and unable to eat the passover. When Jesus stood before the governor, Pilate asked the crowd what was his crime. They said that if he was not a criminal, they would not have brought Jesus to him. They accused Jesus of perverting the country and forbidding any to pay tribute to Caesar. They also said that Jesus claimed to be Christ a king. Jesus refused to answer them and Pilate asked him why he did not defend himself against their many accusations? Jesus did not answer Pilate even so much as a word so that Pilate marvelled. Then Pilate told the crowd to take him and judge him according to their law. They replied that they did not have the power to kill him. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called for Jesus. He asked Jesus if he were the king of the Jews? Jesus asked Pilate if he asked the question of his own accord or did others tell that to him. Pilate retorted that he was not a Jew and that his own people and the chief priests had brought him to him. He asked Jesus what had he done. Jesus stated that his kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. Pilate asked if he were a king to which Jesus said that this was the reason he came into the world so that be might witness to the truth. Pilate asked him what was truth and then went out again to the Jews and said Jesus was innocent. The crowd was more hostile and said he had stirred up the people and taught through all the country of the Jews starting at Galilee to this place.

6468. When Pilate heard about Galilee, he asked Jesus if he were a Galilaean. When he knew that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was at Jerusalem in those days. Herod was exceedingly glad and hoped to see some miracle. Jesus would not answer Herod or the chief priests and scribes who vehemently accused him. After Herod had set Jesus at naught and mocked him, he sent him back to Pilate arrayed in a gorgeous robe. Both the governors became friends that same day.

6469. When Pilate had called the chief priests and the rulers and the people, he told them that both he and Herod found Jesus innocent. Therefore he would chastise Jesus and release him. It was the custom on every feast day, for the governor to free any prisoner the people wanted. The crowd cried out aloud and began to desire that he would do for them as he had always done. Therefore, Pilate called them and asked whether they wanted him to release the king of the Jews or Barabbas. Pilate knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. However, they stirred up the people that Pilate should release Barabbas to them instead of Jesus. Barabbas was an infamous thief who was imprisoned for insurrection and murder in the city. When Pilate sat in the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message saying that he should have nothing to do with that just man because she had suffered may things in a dream because of him that day.

[Soldier4Christ]

6470. Therefore, Pilate asked the crowd again whom they wanted to have released because he really wanted to release Jesus. However, they all cried out and said they did not want Jesus but Barabbas. Therefore Pilate asked them what he should do with the one they called the king of the Jews. They all cried out again and said he should be crucified. Pilate asked a third time what was his crime and he found him innocent. He would chastise him and let him go free. Then they cried more earnestly in loud voices that he should be crucified. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. The soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and clothed him with purple. They mocked him and greeted him as the king of the Jews and beat him with staves. Therefore, Pilate went out again to them and said that he brought Jesus out to them whom he found innocent. Jesus was led out wearing the crown of thorns and the robe. Pilate told them to look at Jesus. When the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out and said to crucify him. Pilate told them to take and crucify him but that he was innocent. The Jews replied that he should die because he said he was the Son of God. When Pilate heard that, he was more afraid and went again into the judgment hall and asked Jesus where he came from. Jesus did not reply. Then Pilate admonished him to answer and bragged that he had the power to crucify him. Jesus answered that he could have no power unless it was given to him from above.

6471. From that time on, Pilate tried to release him but the Jews replied that if he did he was not Caesar's friend. When Pilate heard this, he brought out Jesus and sat in the judgment seat in the place called "the Pavement". It was the preparation for the passover and about the sixth hour (noon). He told the Jews that here was their king. They cried out that he should be crucified. Pilate asked if he should crucify their king but the chief priests said that they had no king but Caesar. When Pilate saw he was getting nowhere and that he had a potential riot on his hands, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd. He said that he was innocent of the blood of this just person. All the people replied that his blood would be on them and their children. Then to placate the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas. After he had scourged Jesus, he did as the crowd wanted and ordered Jesus to be crucified. {Joh 19:1-30 Lu 23:1-25 Mr 15:1-37 Mt 27:11-31}

6472. When the soldiers of the governor had led Jesus into the hall called Praetorium, they called together the whole band. When they had stripped him, they put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown of thorns and put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. They bowed down and mocked him and greeted him as the king of the Jews. When they had spat on him, they took that reed and hit him on the head. After they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe from him and put his own clothes on him and led him out to be crucified.

6473. When Judas who had betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests. He confessed his sin to them and after he cast the silver pieces into the temple, he went and hanged himself. They used the money to buy the potter's field that the prophesy might be fulfilled.

6474. Jesus went out carrying his cross. As they were leading him, they found Simon of Cyrene, who came from the country. They took him and compelled him to carry the cross after Jesus. There were two thieves that were led out with him to be crucified. There followed a great multitude of people and of women who lamented him. He turned to them and foretold the terrible destruction of Jerusalem. When they came to the place called Calvary, but in the Hebrew it is called Golgotha, they gave wine to him to drink which was mingled with myrrh and vinegar mingled with gall. When he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. They crucified him and the two thieves there, about the third hour (9 am). One thief was on each side of him. Jesus prayed to his Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

6475. Pilate wrote a superscription in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and put it on the cross. The chief priests asked Pilate to change it and he refused. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments into four parts, one piece for each soldier who worked on the execution. They cast lots for his seamless coat rather than divide it up so that the scripture might be fulfilled. They sat down and watched him there and the people stood and watched.

6476. Those who passed by reviled him and shook their heads. They told him to come down from the cross because he said he could destroy the temple and raise it up again in three days. Likewise, the chief priests and rulers with the people, mocked and scoffed him along with the scribes and elders. They said that he could save others but he could not save himself. If he really was the king of Israel and that Christ, the chosen of God, then he should come down from the cross and then they would believe him. They said he trusted in God to save him for Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The soldiers also mocked him and came to him. They offered him vinegar and said that if he was really the king of the Jews, he should save himself.

6477. Also the thieves who were crucified with him, threw the same in his face. While one of them continued in his railing against him, the other was converted and rebuked the other thief. He asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus promised him that today he would be with him in paradise.

6478. His mother stood by his cross, as well as his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus' mother and the disciple whom he loved was standing beside her, he said to his mother to behold her son and to the disciple to behold his mother.

6479. When the sixth hour (noon) was come, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (3 pm). In the ninth hour (3 pm), Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli Eli", or, " Eloi Eloi Lamia sabachthani." Some who stood by said that he called for Elijah. After this, when Jesus knew that all things were accomplished so that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said he was thirsty. Beside the cross there was a vessel full of vinegar. They filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop or a reed. They put it to his mouth and said with the rest that they would wait and see if Elijah would come and take him down from the cross. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said that it was finished. He again cried with a loud voice and commended his spirit to his Father. Jesus bowed his head and gave up the ghost. When the centurion saw that he had so cried out and died, he glorified God and testified that certainly this was an innocent man and the Son of God. {Lu 23:26-46 Mr 15:38-42 Mt 27:32-50}

[Soldier4Christ]

6480. The vail of the temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom and there was an earthquake and the rocks were split. The graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had died, arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who stood around Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that were done, they were terrified and testified that certainly this was the Son of God. Then all the people who came to watch the crucifixion beat their chests and returned home. His acquaintances and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood a far off and saw these things. Among them was Salome, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James the Less and Joses. When he was in Galilee, these followed and ministered to him along with many other women who came up to Jerusalem with him. {Lu 23:47-49 Mt 27:51-56}

6481. The Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the sabbath because it was the preparation, (for that sabbath was an high day. They asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken down. Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two thieves but not of Jesus because he was already dead. One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and there immediately came out blood and water. These things were done so that the scripture might be fulfilled. {Joh 19:31-37}

6482. When evening came, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came to Pilate. Joseph was a rich man and an honourable councillor who also looked for the kingdom of God. He was a good and just man and had not consented in the council to their plans. He was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews but he came boldly to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Pilate marvelled that Jesus was already dead and questioned a centurion about Jesus. When Pilate knew it, he gave the body to Joseph. Nicodemus (who first came to Jesus at night) brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about an hundred pound weight. Therefore they took the body of Jesus and wound it in a linen cloth with the spices as the manner of the Jews was in burying a body. When Joseph had wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, he laid it in his own new sepulchre which he had hewn from a rock which was never used previously. The sepulchre was in a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified. Joseph rolled a large stone to the door of the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of Joses, who came with Jesus from Galilee saw where they had laid him and sat opposite the sepulchre. They returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested on the sabbath day according to the commandment.

6483. The next day (April 4th) the Pharisees asked Pilate that he secure the sepulchre until the third day because Jesus said he would arise on the third day. When Pilate agreed, they went and secured the sepulchre. They sealed the stone and set a watch. {Joh 19:38-42 Lu 23:50-56 Mr 15:42-47 Mt 27:57-61}

6484. When the sabbath was over, (April the 5th) and it dawned toward the first day of the week, very early in the morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome came with spices. They came to see the sepulchre and anoint Jesus. They wondered who would roll away the stone from the door for them. When the sun was risen, they came to the sepulchre and they saw the stone was rolled away. There was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. The women went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were very perplexed by this when two men came to them in shining clothes and their faces were as lightning and their garments white as snow. Matthew and Mark mention only one angel. The guards shook for fear and became as dead men. When the women were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, the angels told them not to be afraid for they were seeking Jesus who was crucified. They told them he was not dead but alive. They invited the women to see the sepulchre for themselves. They reminded them that when Jesus was still in Galilee with them, he told them that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and the third day rise again. The angels told them to quickly go and tell his disciples and Peter that he was risen again from the dead. Also they said that Jesus went ahead of them to Galilee and they would see him there. Then the women remembered the words of Jesus and they left quickly from the sepulchre with fear, wonder and great joy. They ran to tell his disciples but they said nothing to any man (as they went) for they were afraid. When the women had told these things to the eleven and to all the rest, their words seemed as idle tales. However, Mary Magdalene told Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved that they had taken away the Lord and they did not know where they had laid him.

6485. Peter and that other disciple left for the sepulchre but the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the sepulchre. When he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying there but did not go in. Then Peter came and went into the sepulchre and saw the linen clothes lying there and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went in and saw and believed and Peter went to his own home wondering about what had happened. As yet they did not know the scriptures that he must rise again from the dead. The disciples went to their own home.

6486. However Mary Magdalene stood outside the sepulchre and wept. While she wept, she stooped down into the sepulchre and saw two angels in white sitting there, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been. They asked her why she wept. She told them that they had taken away her Lord and she did not know where they had laid him. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing but did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asked her why she wept and whom she was looking for. She thought the man was the gardener and asked that if he had taken the body away, to show her where he had put the body. Jesus said "Mary" and she immediately recognised him. Jesus told her not to touch him for he had not yet ascended to his Father. She was to go and tell his brethren. She went and told his disciples and those that had been with him as they were weeping and mourning that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her. They did not believe her. The women went from the sepulchre (perhaps Mary Magdalene was absent) that they might tell his disciples. Jesus met with the women and greeted them and they all came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. Jesus told them not to be afraid but to tell his brethren to go into Galilee and meet Jesus there.

6487. When they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders, they took counsel that they would give a large amount of money to the soldiers. The soldiers were to say that his disciples came by night and stole the body away while they slept. If the governor heard about this, they said they would protect the soldiers from any harm. So they took their money and did as they were told. This saying is commonly reported among the Jews to this day. {Joh 20:1-18 Lu 24:1-12 Mr 16:1-11 Mt 28:1-15}

6488. Two of Jesus' followers went into the country that same day to the village of Emmaus which was about 7.5 miles from Jerusalem. As they journeyed, Jesus went along with them and they told him what things had happened in those days about Jesus of Nazareth. He was crucified and was supposed to rise again on the third day. Jesus showed them from the scriptures that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to enter into his glory. In the village, when he had taken bread and given thanks and broke it and given it to them, he revealed himself to them and their eyes were opened although he appeared in another form. He vanished from their sight. They left the same hour and returned to Jerusalem to the eleven and those that were with them. They told these two that the Lord had risen indeed and had appeared to Simon. Then they told them what things had happened on the way and how he was known of them in the breaking of bread. They did not believe them. {Lu 24:13-35 Mr 16:12,13}

[Soldier4Christ]

6489. While they were still talking in the evening of the first day of the week, they had the doors shut for fear of the Jews. Jesus appeared and stood in their midst and greeted them. They were terrified and frightened and thought they had seen a spirit. However he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who had seen him since he had risen. He asked them why they were troubled and he showed them his hands and his feet and said that a spirit does not have flesh and bones. He showed them his hands, feet and his side. When they did not believed for joy and wondered, he asked them if there was anything to eat and he ate a piece of broiled fish, and an honey comb. The disciples rejoiced that they had seen the Lord. Jesus told them that what had happened was exactly what he had told them would happen so that all things would be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, the prophets and in the Psalms about Christ. Then he opened their understandings so that they might understand the scriptures. He told them it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day so that repentance and remission of sins could be preached in his name among all countries. He said they were witnesses of these things. He gave them the promise from his Father. They were to stay at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. Again he greeted them and said that as his Father had sent him, so he would send them. They were to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone. He who believed and was baptized would be saved but he who did not believe, would be damned. He would give them signs to authenticate their message. In the name of Jesus, they would cast out demons and speak in new languages. They would take up serpents and if they drank any deadly thing, it would not hurt them. They would lay their hands on the sick and they would recover. After he had said all these things, he breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Ghost. Whomever sins they remitted, they would be remitted to them. Whomever sins they retained, they would be retained. (Thus Jesus appeared five times on the very first day of his resurrection.) {Joh 20: 19-23 Lu 24:36-49 Mr 14:14-18}

6490. Thomas, who was called Didymus and one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the rest of the disciples told him, that they had seen the Lord, he very confidently professed that he would not believe it. After eight days, (April 12th) Thomas was present with the rest and Jesus came when the doors were shut. He stood in their midst and greeted them and abundantly satisfied Thomas' unbelief. {Joh 20:24-29 Lu 24:16-20}

6491. Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee to the mountain where he told them to meet him. When they saw him, they worshipped him but some doubted. When Jesus came to them, he said that he had all power and they were to go and tell the gospel message to everyone. He promised to be with them to the end of the world. After that, Jesus was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once and after that by James. {1Co 15:6,7 Mt 28:16-20}

6492. Later Jesus showed himself to his disciples again at the sea of Tiberias or at least to seven of them as they were fishing. After they had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus was standing on the shore and they did not recognise him. He told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat where they caught 153 large fish. Jesus bid them to come and dine with him and no one dared ask him who he was for they knew it was the Lord. When they had dined, he warned Peter three times of his pastoral charge. Jesus foretold the kind of death he would die. When Peter asked about John, Jesus replied but his answer was incorrectly understood by the brethren. {Joh 21:1-24}

6493. Last of all, he appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem and led them out as far as Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. It came to pass as he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. {Lu 24:50,51 Mr 16:19}

6494. Here ends the history of the acts of Christ by the four evangelists including his forerunner, John the Baptist. Josephus had a short note of honourable mention about John the Baptist. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:484>}

``Herod the Tetrarch, killed John, surnamed the Baptist, who was a most excellent man. He motivated the Jews to the study of virtues especially of piety and justice. He encouraged them to be baptised which he said would be acceptable to God, if they made use of it, not for the remission of their sins only but first having their minds purged through righteousness then they would also purify the body. Many went out to him especially the common people who were pleased with his words. Herod feared lest the great authority of the man would cause some rebellion because they seemed as though they would listen to nothing which he advised them. He thought it safer to take him out of the way before there was any sedition rather than act when it was too late. Therefore he commanded him to be sent prisoner to Macharas and then to be put to death.''

6495. Josephus stated this about Christ, our Lord: {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 4, 5. <c. 3. 1:480>}

``At the same time there was a wise man named Jesus, if we may call him a man. He was a worker of miracles and a teacher of those who willingly receive the truth. He had many Jews and Gentiles who followed him and was believed to be the Christ. When Pilate had crucified him through the envy of our rulers, nevertheless those who first loved him continued loyal in their love for him and he appeared to them alive the third day. The prophets in their prophesies foretold both these and many other powerful things concerning him. The Christians (named after him) continue to this very day.''

6496. Thus Jerome in his book of ecclesiastical writers has translated this place. His reading is:

``He was believed to be the Christ.''

[Soldier4Christ]

6497. is preferred before that of Eusebius. {Eusebius, History Eccles., c. 11.} or Rufinus or as it is in our books:

``This was the Christ.''

6498. It is clear that Josephus came no nearer to our religion than King Agrippa to whom he was most devoted whose confession to Paul was: {Ac 26:28}

``Almost you have persuaded me to be a Christian.''

6499. Cornelius Tacitus stated:

``Christ was put to death by Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea in the reign of Tiberius.'' {Tacitus, Annals, l. 15. c. 43.?}

6500. Lucian the martyr in Rufinus testifies to the darkness at that time by appealing to the writings of the heathen themselves. {Eusebius, History Eccles., l. 9. c. 6.}

``Search your writings and you shall find in Pilate's time when Christ suffered that the sun was suddenly withdrawn and a darkness followed.''

6501. Before him Tertulian {Tertulian, Apologetic to the Gentiles, c. 21.} stated:

``At the same moment the day was withdrawn even when the sun was at the height. Those that never knew that this also was spoken concerning Christ, judged it to be nothing but an eclipse. However, you shall find this event that happened to the world, recorded even on your own monuments.''

6502. Thallus, {Thallus, Histories, l. 3} called this an eclipse and Phlegon of Tralles {Phlegon, Chronicles, l. 13.} also called it an eclipse. (Thallus lived at the time of these events and wrote a history starting from the Trojan War down to the death of Christ. {*Oxford Classical Dictionary, p. 1491.} Phlegon lived at the time of Hadrian and wrote a history starting from the first Olympiad down to 140 AD. {*Oxford Classical Dictionary, p. 1172.}, Editor.) Thallus was quoted by Julius Africanus in his third chronography. Africanus was a contemporary of Origen. Phlegon was quoted in Origin's book {Origin, against Celsus, p. 83, 99. Greek edition} and in his 35th tract. Phlegon stated that at the 19th year of Tiberius (as Eustathius Antiochus notes in Hexameron) and the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (e.g. 33 AD) are these words. (Ussher has a large quote from the Greek from Origin. Editor.) Jerome translated this in Eusebius' Chronicle to Latin. (Ussher has a large quote in Latin from Jerome translation of Eusebius. Editor.) The English translation is:

``There was a large and most famous eclipse that has ever happened. The day was so turned into night at the sixth hour (noon) so that the stars were seen. An earthquake also in Bithynia destroyed many houses in the city of Nice.''

6503. (Sir Robert Anderson, {*Anderson, The Coming Prince, p. 104.} gives the dates for the passover from 22 AD to 37 AD. Note that the passover would start at sundown for the previous day and end at sundown for the date shown. The passover meal would be eaten the previous evening. These are:
Year    Passover
AD    Day    Date
22    Sunday    April 22
23    Thursday    March 25
24    Wednesday    April 12
25    Sunday    April 1
26    Thursday    March 21
27    Wednesday    April 9
28    Monday    March 29
29    Sunday    April 17
30    Thursday    April 6
31    Tuesday    March 27
32    Monday    April 14
33    Friday    April 3
34    Tuesday    March 23
35    Monday    April 11
36    Friday    March 30
37    Thursday    April 18

6504. Anderson independently confirmed the date for passover that Ussher computed for 33 AD hence we assume his other calculations are equally accurate. He stated at length in his book how these were done so it appears he did his homework well. The day of the week was calculated independently by the editor using the the Online Bible Calendar program and was not included with the original materal by Anderson. Ironically, Anderson selected 32 AD date as the year that Christ died and goes to great pains to show why the Jews celebrated the passover on the wrong day, that is on Friday not Monday. The only plausible date from the list is 33 AD for Good Friday as the only other date for Good Friday would be in 36 AD which is too late. This independently confirms the writings of Phlegon. Editor.)

6505. From the history of the gospels about the sayings and acts of Christ, Luke makes this transition to the Acts of the Apostles.

``The former treatise I have made O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day (of our May 14th.) in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments to his apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.'' {Ac 1:1-3}

[Soldier4Christ]

6506. When they were assembled together with them, the Lord commanded them that they should not leave Jerusalem but should wait for the promise of the Father which was the soon baptism of the Holy Ghost. {Ac 1:4,5 11:16} The apostles asked the Lord, if he would at this time restore the kingdom to Israel. He replied that it was not for them to know the times that the Father had put in his own power. However, they would receive the Holy Ghost and would bear witness of him, not only in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, but to the uttermost parts of the earth. After he had spoken these things while they saw him, he was taken up and a cloud received him from their sight. They were also instructed by two angels who suddenly appeared in white clothes. They said that he would come again (for judgment) in the very same way as they now saw him go up into heaven. {Ac 1:6-11}

6507. When they had worshipped him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy {Lu 24:52} from the Mount of Olives which was a sabbath day's journey from there. {Ac 1:12} The Syrian version writes seven furlongs (about 7/8 of a mile.) Likewise does Theophylact based on Josephus. However, our copies of Josephus read that the Mount of Olives was either 5 furlongs (5/8 of a mile) {Josephus, Antiq., l. 20. c. 6.} or 6 {Josephus, Wars, l. 5. c. 8.} as the Greek, or {Josephus, l. 6. c. 3.} as the Latin copy has it.

6508. The eleven apostles stayed in an upper room in Jerusalem and continued with one accord in prayer with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers. {Ac 1:13,14}

6509. In those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, who numbered abut 120, and spoke to them about choosing a successor for the traitor Judas. He had thrown himself down headlong and burst in the midst. When they had prayed, they cast lots between Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias. The lot fell to Matthias and he was chosen to be numbered with the apostles. {Ac 1:15-26}

6510. On the day of Pentecost (May 24th) when all the 120 were assembled together with one accord, there suddenly came a sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind and it filled all the house where they sat. There appeared to them cloven tongues like of fire which sat on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. They began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. At Jerusalem were devout Jews from every country under heaven. When they heard these speaking in their own languages the wonderful things of God, they were all amazed. However others profanely derided the miracle. Peter, in a most grave sermon, refuted their charge of drunkenness since it was only the third hour (9 am) of the day. (9 am) He then expounded to them about Christ from the law and the prophets and proved that he was risen. Through the power of the Spirit, 3000 were converted. Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins. {Ac 2:1-41}

6511. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. They broke bread and prayed. Fear came upon every soul and the apostles performed many signs and wonders. All who believed were together and had all things common and sold their possessions and goods. They gave them to all men according to their needs. They continued daily with one accord in the temple and broke bread from house to house. They ate with gladness and singleness of heart. They praised God and had favour with all the people. The Lord added daily to the church such as should be saved. {Ac 2:42-47}

6512. Peter and John went up together into the temple about the hour of prayer which was the ninth hour. (3 pm) At the gate of the temple, called "Beautiful", they healed in the name of Christ, a man who had been lame from his birth who was about 40 years old. For this reason, the people came running into Solomon's porch. Peter expounded the mystery of salvation through Christ and upbraided their ingratitude and exhorted them to repentance. Many who heard him believed and the number of men were about 5000. However, the priests and rulers of the temple with the Sadducees came and took Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day because it was then evening. The next day the council was convened (in which were Annas the high priest who was the president of the council along with Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the high priest's relatives.) The apostles were called in question about the miracles they had done. They boldly defended the cause of Christ and the council forbid them to speak any more in the name of Christ. The apostles replied that it was better to obey God than men. They were threatened and released. The apostles returned to their own home, where, together with the whole church, they poured out fervent prayer to God for the propagation of the gospel. The Lord answered this prayer by causing an earthquake and sending his Holy Spirit into their hearts. {Ac 3:1-4:37}

6513. The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul and they had all things in common. No one lacked anything because as many as had lands or houses, went and sold them. They brought the money and laid it down at the apostles' feet to be distributed to the poor. Josephus or Joses, a Levite, from Cyprus surnamed by the apostles, Barnabas, (e.g. the son of consolation) set the first example by selling his possessions. {Ac 4:32-37}

6514. Ananias and Sapphira his wife, fraudulently agreed together to keep back some of the money they received for the land they sold. They lied and said they had given the whole amount. They were struck dead by the word and rebuke only of Peter who exposed the fraud and avenged it by the power of the Holy Ghost to whom they had lied. Great fear fell on all the church and on as many as heard of these things. {Ac 5:1-11}

6515. The apostles performed many miracles among the people and they were all together with one accord in Solomon's Porch. None of the rest dared join them however the people magnified them and the Lord added more believers to the church. They brought the sick into the streets that at the very least when the shadow of Peter passed over them, they would be healed. A large multitude came from the cities around Jerusalem and brought the sick and those who were vexed with unclean spirits and they were all healed. {Ac 5:12-16}

6516. The high priest and the Sadducees who were with him, were envious and cast the apostles into prison. In the night they were freed by an angel and told to teach the people boldly and without fear. When they were brought to the council, they escaped death through the advice of Gamaliel a Pharisee. He was a doctor of the law and held in much esteem among the people. After they had been scourged, they were freed. They left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. They taught daily in the temple. {Ac 5:17-42}

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}

[Soldier4Christ]

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}

[Soldier4Christ]

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.}

[Soldier4Christ]

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.}

[Soldier4Christ]

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>}

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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>}

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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>}

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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>}

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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}

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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}