WEBVTT 00:26.040 --> 00:27.240 BOOK II. 00:27.420 --> 00:28.060 PART III. 00:28.520 --> 00:30.360 CHAPTER XVIII-XXVI. 00:30.840 --> 00:30.900 CHAPTER XVIII. 00:30.900 --> 00:30.900 CHAPTER XVIII-XXVI. 00:30.900 --> 00:33.500 CHAPTER XVIII. 00:59.480 --> 01:00.880 CHAPTER XVIII. 01:09.720 --> 01:12.040 CHAPTER XVIII. 01:16.160 --> 01:17.600 CHAPTER XVIII. 01:42.600 --> 01:42.820 CHAPTER XVIII. 01:59.820 --> 02:00.040 CHAPTER XVIII. 02:12.840 --> 02:15.640 CHAPTER XVIII. 02:29.400 --> 02:30.840 CHAPTER XVIII. 02:33.680 --> 02:39.000 But on Exodus we are acquainted with the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth 02:39.000 --> 02:44.260 books of questions and answers, also with that On the Tabernacle and that 02:44.260 --> 02:48.880 On the Ten Commandments, and the four books On the Laws which refer especially 02:48.880 --> 02:53.420 to the principal divisions of the Ten Commandments, and another On Animals 02:53.420 --> 02:59.300 Intended for Sacrifice and On the Kinds of Sacrifice, and another On the Rewards 02:59.300 --> 03:03.580 Fixed in the Law for the Good and On the Punishments and Curses Fixed for the 03:03.580 --> 03:03.900 Wicked. 03:05.460 --> 03:10.740 In addition to all these, there are extant also some single-volumed works of his, 03:10.960 --> 03:16.720 as for instance the work On Providence and the book composed by him On the Jews and 03:16.720 --> 03:21.980 the Statesmen, and still further Alexander or On the Possession of Reason by the 03:21.980 --> 03:23.120 Irrational Animals. 03:24.260 --> 03:28.520 Besides these, there is a work On the Proposition that Every Wicked Man is a 03:28.520 --> 03:33.460 Slave, to which is subjoined the work On the Proposition that Every Good Man is 03:33.460 --> 03:33.840 Free. 03:35.540 --> 03:40.260 After these was composed by him the work On the Contemplative Life or On 03:40.260 --> 03:44.840 Suppliants, from which we have drawn the facts concerning the life of the apostolic 03:44.840 --> 03:50.000 men, and still further the interpretation of the Hebrew names in the Law and in the 03:50.000 --> 03:52.500 Prophets are said to be the result of his industry. 03:54.340 --> 03:58.360 And he is said to have read in the presence of the whole Roman Senate during 03:58.360 --> 04:02.500 the reign of Claudius the work which he had written when he came to Rome under 04:02.500 --> 04:07.620 Caius concerning Caius' hatred of the gods, and to which, with ironical 04:07.620 --> 04:11.720 reference to its character, he had given the title On the Virtues. 04:12.320 --> 04:17.080 And his discourses were so much admired as to be deemed worthy of a place in the 04:17.080 --> 04:17.580 libraries. 04:19.720 --> 04:24.620 At this time, while Paul was completing his journey from Jerusalem and roundabout 04:24.620 --> 04:30.060 unto Illyricum, Claudius drove the Jews out of Rome, and Aquila and Priscilla, 04:30.400 --> 04:34.520 leaving Rome with the other Jews, came to Asia, and their abode with the 04:34.520 --> 04:38.640 Apostle Paul, who was confirming the churches of that region whose foundations 04:38.640 --> 04:39.940 he had newly laid. 04:40.500 --> 04:43.940 The Sacred Book of the Acts informs us also of these things. 04:46.060 --> 04:47.140 CHAPTER XIX. 04:47.820 --> 04:51.920 THE CALAMITY WHICH BEFELL THE JEWS IN JERUSALEM ON THE DAY OF THE PASSOVER. 04:53.500 --> 04:57.580 While Claudius was still Emperor, it happened that so great a tumult and 04:57.580 --> 05:01.740 disturbance took place in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover, that thirty 05:01.740 --> 05:05.620 thousand of those Jews alone who were forcibly crowded together at the gate of 05:05.620 --> 05:08.980 the Temple perished, being trampled under foot by one another. 05:09.920 --> 05:14.180 Thus the festival became a season of mourning for all the nation, and there was 05:14.180 --> 05:15.460 weeping in every house. 05:16.040 --> 05:18.820 These things are related literally by Josephus. 05:20.320 --> 05:24.520 But Claudius appointed Agrippa, son of Agrippa, king of the Jews, 05:24.960 --> 05:29.120 having sent Felix as procurator of the whole country of Samaria and Galilee, 05:29.500 --> 05:31.040 and of the land called Perea. 05:31.740 --> 05:36.700 And after he had reigned thirteen years and eight months, he died, and left Nero 05:36.700 --> 05:38.620 as his successor in the empire. 05:40.840 --> 05:41.860 CHAPTER XX. 05:42.480 --> 05:46.180 THE EVENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE IN JERUSALEM DURING THE REIGN OF NERO. 05:47.760 --> 05:52.480 Josephus again, in the twentieth book of his Antiquities, relates the quarrel which 05:52.480 --> 05:57.080 arose among the priests during the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of 05:57.080 --> 05:57.560 Judea. 05:58.900 --> 06:00.860 His words are as follows. 06:01.300 --> 06:05.180 There arose a quarrel between the high priests on the one hand, and the priests 06:05.180 --> 06:07.660 and leaders of the people of Jerusalem on the other. 06:08.480 --> 06:12.480 And each of them collected a body of the boldest and most restless men, 06:12.780 --> 06:16.320 and put himself at their head, and whenever they met they hurled 06:16.320 --> 06:18.340 invectives and stones at each other. 06:18.940 --> 06:22.960 And there was no one that would interpose, but these things were done at will, 06:23.160 --> 06:25.080 as if in a city destitute of a ruler. 06:26.400 --> 06:30.460 And so great was the shamelessness and audacity of the high priests that they 06:30.460 --> 06:34.780 dared to send their servants to the threshing floors to seize the tithes due 06:34.780 --> 06:35.520 to the priests. 06:36.040 --> 06:40.240 And thus those of the priests that were poor were seen to be perishing of want. 06:40.880 --> 06:45.020 In this way did the violence of the factions prevail over all justice. 06:46.300 --> 06:50.760 And the same author again relates that about the same time there sprang up in 06:50.760 --> 06:55.780 Jerusalem a certain kind of robbers, who by day, as he says, and in the middle 06:55.780 --> 06:58.020 of the city slew those who met them. 06:59.320 --> 07:04.480 For especially at the feasts they mingled with the multitude, and with short swords, 07:04.700 --> 07:09.120 which they concealed under their garments, they stabbed the most distinguished men. 07:09.600 --> 07:13.480 And when they fell, the murderers themselves were among those who expressed 07:13.480 --> 07:14.480 their indignation. 07:15.140 --> 07:18.840 And thus on account of the confidence which was reposed in them by all, 07:19.200 --> 07:21.080 they remained undiscovered. 07:23.020 --> 07:28.040 The first that was slain by them was Jonathan the High Priest, and after him 07:28.040 --> 07:32.800 many were killed every day, until the fear became worse than the evil itself, 07:33.220 --> 07:36.380 each one as in battle hourly expecting death. 07:38.620 --> 07:39.860 Chapter 21. 07:40.440 --> 07:44.120 The Egyptian, who is mentioned also in the Acts of the Apostles. 07:45.460 --> 07:48.380 After other matters, he proceeds as follows. 07:48.800 --> 07:53.160 But the Jews were afflicted with a greater plague than these by the Egyptian false 07:53.160 --> 07:53.580 prophet. 07:54.100 --> 07:58.200 For there appeared in the land an imposter, who aroused faith in himself as 07:58.200 --> 08:02.260 a prophet and collected about thirty thousand of those whom he had deceived, 08:02.780 --> 08:06.580 and led them from the desert to the so-called Mount of Olives, whence he was 08:06.580 --> 08:11.480 prepared to enter Jerusalem by force and to overpower the Roman garrison and seize 08:11.480 --> 08:15.540 the government of the people, using those who made the attack with him as 08:15.540 --> 08:16.360 bodyguards. 08:17.660 --> 08:21.980 But Felix anticipated his attack, and went out to meet him with the Roman 08:21.980 --> 08:26.760 legionaries, and all the people joined in the defense, so that when the battle was 08:26.760 --> 08:30.880 fought the Egyptian fled with a few followers, but the most of them were 08:30.880 --> 08:32.580 destroyed or taken captive. 08:34.700 --> 08:39.100 Josephus relates these events in the second book of his history, but it is 08:39.100 --> 08:43.120 worthwhile comparing the account of the Egyptian given here with that contained in 08:43.120 --> 08:44.360 the Acts of the Apostles. 08:44.860 --> 08:48.900 In the time of Felix it was said to Paul by the centurion in Jerusalem, 08:49.460 --> 08:52.620 when the multitude of the Jews raised a disturbance against the apostle, 08:53.140 --> 08:58.260 Art not thou he who before these days made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness 08:58.260 --> 09:00.280 four thousand men that were murderers? 09:00.780 --> 09:03.700 These are the events which took place in the time of Felix. 09:06.320 --> 09:07.520 Chapter 22. 09:08.240 --> 09:13.400 Paul, having been sent bound from Judea to Rome, made his defense, and was acquitted 09:13.400 --> 09:14.560 of every charge. 09:16.260 --> 09:19.620 Festus was sent by Nero to be Felix's successor. 09:20.340 --> 09:24.120 Under him Paul, having made his defense, was sent bound to Rome. 09:24.840 --> 09:29.180 Aristarchus was with him, whom he also somewhere in his epistles quite naturally 09:29.180 --> 09:30.500 calls his fellow prisoner. 09:31.460 --> 09:35.860 And Luke, who wrote the Acts of the Apostles, brought his history to a close 09:35.860 --> 09:40.500 at this point, after stating that Paul spent two whole years at Rome as a 09:40.500 --> 09:44.320 prisoner at large, and preached the word of God without restraint. 09:46.340 --> 09:50.600 Thus, after he had made his defense, it is said that the apostle was sent again 09:50.600 --> 09:54.400 upon the ministry of preaching, and that upon coming to the same city a 09:54.400 --> 09:56.380 second time he suffered martyrdom. 09:57.140 --> 10:01.620 In this imprisonment he wrote his second epistle to Timothy, in which he mentions 10:01.620 --> 10:04.000 his first defense and his impending death. 10:05.600 --> 10:08.060 But hear his testimony on these matters. 10:08.520 --> 10:13.520 At my first answer, he says, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. 10:13.980 --> 10:16.900 I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 10:17.680 --> 10:21.980 Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the 10:21.980 --> 10:25.680 preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear, 10:25.980 --> 10:28.400 and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 10:30.740 --> 10:35.600 He plainly indicates in these words that on the former occasion, in order that the 10:35.600 --> 10:39.700 preaching might be fulfilled by him, he was rescued from the mouth of the lion, 10:40.100 --> 10:44.980 referring in this expression to Nero, as is probable on account of the latter's 10:44.980 --> 10:45.380 cruelty. 10:45.960 --> 10:50.200 He did not therefore afterward add the similar statement, he will rescue me from 10:50.200 --> 10:54.540 the mouth of the lion, for he saw in the spirit that his end would not be long 10:54.540 --> 10:55.020 delayed. 10:56.840 --> 11:00.520 Wherefore, he adds to the words, and he delivered me from the mouth of the 11:00.520 --> 11:04.860 lion, this sentence, the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, 11:05.260 --> 11:10.120 and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, indicating his speedy martyrdom, 11:10.420 --> 11:14.280 which he also foretells still more clearly in the same epistle when he writes, 11:14.700 --> 11:19.060 for I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 11:21.040 --> 11:25.820 In his second epistle to Timothy, moreover, he indicates that Luke was with 11:25.820 --> 11:29.120 him when he wrote, but at his first defense, not even he. 11:29.900 --> 11:33.760 Whence it is probable that Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles at that time, 11:34.200 --> 11:37.420 continuing his history down to the period when he was with Paul. 11:38.660 --> 11:43.360 But these things have been adduced by us to show that Paul's martyrdom did not take 11:43.360 --> 11:46.600 place at the time of that Roman sojourn which Luke records. 11:46.600 --> 11:52.640 It is probable, indeed, that as Nero was more disposed to mildness in the 11:52.640 --> 11:57.840 beginning, Paul's defense of his doctrine was more easily received, but that when he 11:57.840 --> 12:02.800 had advanced to the commission of lawless deeds of daring, he made the Apostles as 12:02.800 --> 12:05.380 well as others the subjects of his attacks. 12:14.140 --> 12:19.520 But after Paul, in consequence of his appeal to Caesar, had been sent to Rome by 12:19.520 --> 12:24.140 Festus, the Jews, being frustrated in their hope of entrapping him by the snares 12:24.140 --> 12:28.180 which they had laid for him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, 12:28.600 --> 12:32.680 to whom the Episcopal seat at Jerusalem had been entrusted by the Apostles, 12:33.480 --> 12:37.040 the following daring measures were undertaken by them against him. 12:38.820 --> 12:42.700 Leading him into their midst, they demanded of him that he should renounce 12:42.700 --> 12:45.020 faith in Christ in the presence of all the people. 12:45.680 --> 12:50.260 But, contrary to the opinion of all, with a clear voice and with greater 12:50.260 --> 12:54.520 boldness than they had anticipated, he spoke out before the whole multitude 12:54.520 --> 12:58.340 and confessed that our Savior and Lord Jesus is the Son of God. 12:59.300 --> 13:04.180 But they were unable to bear longer the testimony of the man who, on accounts of 13:04.180 --> 13:08.600 the excellence of ascetic virtue and of piety which he exhibited in his life, 13:09.080 --> 13:14.160 was esteemed by all as the most just of men, and consequently they slew him. 13:14.960 --> 13:19.080 Opportunity for this deed of violence was furnished by the prevailing anarchy, 13:19.560 --> 13:23.820 which was caused by the fact that Festus had died just at this time in Judea, 13:24.120 --> 13:27.260 and that the province was thus without a governor and head. 13:28.600 --> 13:33.180 The manner of James' death has been already indicated by the above-quoted 13:33.180 --> 13:38.140 words of Clement, who records that he was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and 13:38.140 --> 13:39.820 was beaten to death with a club. 13:40.420 --> 13:44.540 But Hegesippus, who lived immediately after the apostles, gives the most 13:44.540 --> 13:47.260 accurate account in the fifth book of his memoirs. 13:47.560 --> 13:49.020 He writes as follows. 13:50.160 --> 13:53.900 James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the church 13:53.900 --> 13:55.500 in conjunction with the apostles. 13:56.060 --> 14:00.360 He has been called the just by all from the time of our Savior to the present day, 14:00.720 --> 14:02.940 for there were many that bore the name of James. 14:04.380 --> 14:08.760 He was holy from his mother's womb, and he drank no wine nor strong drink, 14:09.000 --> 14:10.280 nor did he eat flesh. 14:10.820 --> 14:15.540 No razor came upon his head, he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not 14:15.540 --> 14:16.440 use the bath. 14:17.540 --> 14:22.020 He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place, for he wore not woolen but 14:22.020 --> 14:22.860 linen garments. 14:23.380 --> 14:27.840 And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found 14:27.840 --> 14:32.640 upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like 14:32.640 --> 14:37.500 those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of 14:37.500 --> 14:40.040 God and asking forgiveness for the people. 14:42.680 --> 14:47.360 Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the just, and oblius, 14:47.660 --> 14:52.460 which signifies in Greek bulwark of the people, and justice, in accordance with 14:52.460 --> 14:54.520 what the prophets declare concerning him. 14:56.060 --> 15:00.220 Now some of the seven sects, which existed among the people and which have been 15:00.220 --> 15:04.760 mentioned by me in the memoirs, asked of him, What is the gate of Jesus? 15:05.060 --> 15:07.120 And he replied that he was the Savior. 15:09.160 --> 15:14.180 On account of these words, some believed that Jesus is the Christ, but the sects 15:14.180 --> 15:18.420 mentioned above did not believe either in a resurrection or in one's coming to give 15:18.420 --> 15:20.300 to every man according to his works. 15:20.900 --> 15:24.100 But as many as believed did so on account of James. 15:26.020 --> 15:30.620 Therefore, when many even of the rulers believed, there was a commotion among the 15:30.620 --> 15:34.300 Jews and scribes and Pharisees, who said that there was danger that the 15:34.300 --> 15:37.060 whole people would be looking for Jesus as the Christ. 15:37.800 --> 15:42.680 Coming therefore in a body to James, they said, We entreat thee, restrain the 15:42.680 --> 15:47.120 people, for they are gone astray in regard to Jesus as if he were the Christ. 15:47.600 --> 15:51.160 We entreat thee to persuade all that have come to the feast of the Passover 15:51.160 --> 15:54.740 concerning Jesus, for we all have confidence in thee. 15:55.180 --> 15:59.860 For we bear thee witness, as do all the people, that thou art just and dost not 15:59.860 --> 16:00.840 respect persons. 16:02.460 --> 16:06.920 Do thou therefore persuade the multitude not to be led astray concerning Jesus? 16:07.540 --> 16:11.580 For the whole people and all of us also have confidence in thee. 16:12.200 --> 16:16.540 Stand therefore upon the pinnacle of the temple, that from that high position thou 16:16.540 --> 16:21.320 mayest be clearly seen, and that thy words may be readily heard by all the people. 16:21.900 --> 16:26.480 For all the tribes, with the Gentiles also, are come together on account of the 16:26.480 --> 16:26.960 Passover. 16:28.960 --> 16:33.380 The aforesaid scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle 16:33.380 --> 16:38.380 of the temple and cried out to him, and said, Thou just one, in whom we ought 16:38.380 --> 16:42.520 all to have confidence, forasmuch as the people are led astray after Jesus, 16:42.660 --> 16:46.500 the crucified one, declare to us what is the gate of Jesus. 16:48.040 --> 16:52.400 And he answered with a loud voice, Why do ye ask me concerning Jesus, 16:52.560 --> 16:53.500 the Son of Man? 16:53.820 --> 16:58.680 He himself sitteth in heaven at the right hand of the great power, and is about to 16:58.680 --> 17:00.280 come upon the clouds of heaven. 17:02.120 --> 17:06.300 And when many were fully convinced and gloried in the testimony of James, 17:06.500 --> 17:11.380 and said, Hosanna to the Son of David, these same scribes and Pharisees said 17:11.380 --> 17:16.000 again to one another, We have done badly in supplying such testimony to Jesus, 17:16.260 --> 17:20.400 but let us go up and throw him down, in order that they may be afraid to 17:20.400 --> 17:21.040 believe him. 17:22.180 --> 17:27.020 And they cried out, saying, O, O, the just man is also in error! 17:27.220 --> 17:31.740 And they fulfilled the promise, Let us take away the just man, 17:32.020 --> 17:33.740 because he is troublesome to us. 17:34.160 --> 17:36.600 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 17:37.920 --> 17:42.820 So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, Let us stone 17:42.820 --> 17:43.880 James the just. 17:44.080 --> 17:47.620 And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall. 17:47.960 --> 17:52.780 But he turned and knelt down, and said, I entreat thee, Lord God our Father, 17:53.060 --> 17:55.480 forgive them, for they know not what they do. 17:56.860 --> 18:01.140 And while they were thus stoning him, one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, 18:01.380 --> 18:05.060 the son of the Rechabites, who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, 18:05.400 --> 18:07.700 cried out, saying, Cease, what do ye? 18:08.060 --> 18:09.920 The just one prayeth for you. 18:11.480 --> 18:15.660 And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out 18:15.660 --> 18:20.620 clothes, and struck the just man on the head, and thus he suffered martyrdom. 18:21.240 --> 18:25.720 And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still 18:25.720 --> 18:26.900 remains by the temple. 18:27.580 --> 18:32.320 He became a true witness, both to Jews and Greeks, that Jesus is the Christ. 18:32.820 --> 18:35.640 And immediately Vespasian besieged them. 18:37.780 --> 18:42.380 These things are related at length by Hegesippus, who is in agreement with 18:42.380 --> 18:42.720 Clement. 18:43.440 --> 18:47.940 James was so admirable a man, and so celebrated among all for his justice, 18:48.360 --> 18:52.320 that the more sensible even of the Jews were of the opinion that this was the 18:52.320 --> 18:56.460 cause of the siege of Jerusalem, which happened to them immediately after 18:56.460 --> 19:00.560 his martyrdom, for no other reason than their daring act against him. 19:02.580 --> 19:07.540 Josephus, at least, has not hesitated to testify this in his writings, where he 19:07.540 --> 19:12.820 says, These things happened to the Jews to avenge James the just, who was a brother 19:12.820 --> 19:18.240 of Jesus, that is called the Christ, for the Jews slew him, although he was a 19:18.240 --> 19:19.280 most just man. 19:21.180 --> 19:26.180 And the same writer records his death also in the 20th book of his Antiquities in the 19:26.180 --> 19:30.540 following words, But the emperor, when he learned of the death of Festus, 19:30.860 --> 19:33.640 sent Albinus to be procurator of Judea. 19:34.160 --> 19:38.460 But the younger Ananus, who, as we have already said, had obtained the high 19:38.460 --> 19:42.120 priesthood, was of an exceedingly bold and reckless disposition. 19:42.840 --> 19:47.980 He belonged moreover to the sect of the Sadducees, who are the most cruel of all 19:47.980 --> 19:51.880 the Jews in the execution of judgment, as we have already shown. 19:54.040 --> 19:58.120 Ananus, therefore, being of this character, and supposing that he had a 19:58.120 --> 20:02.920 favorable opportunity on account of the fact that Festus was dead, and Albinus was 20:02.920 --> 20:07.100 still on the way, called together the Sanhedrin, and brought before them the 20:07.100 --> 20:11.800 brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ, James by name, together with some others, 20:12.240 --> 20:16.020 and accused them of violating the law, and condemned them to be stoned. 20:18.240 --> 20:22.840 But those in the city who seemed most moderate and skilled in the law were very 20:22.840 --> 20:28.140 angry at this, and sent secretly to the king, requesting him to order Ananus to 20:28.140 --> 20:29.400 cease such proceedings. 20:30.500 --> 20:33.120 For he had not done right even this first time. 20:33.680 --> 20:37.720 And certain of them also went to meet Albinus, who was journeying from 20:37.720 --> 20:42.120 Alexandria, and reminded him that it was not lawful for Ananus to summon the 20:42.120 --> 20:43.760 Sanhedrin without his knowledge. 20:45.600 --> 20:51.020 And Albinus, being persuaded by their representations, wrote in anger to Ananus, 20:51.380 --> 20:52.720 threatening him with punishment. 20:53.340 --> 20:57.740 And the king, Agrippa, in consequence, deprived him of the high priesthood, 20:58.080 --> 21:02.540 which he had held three months, and appointed Jesus the son of Domnius. 21:04.460 --> 21:09.020 These things are recorded in regard to James, who is said to be the author of the 21:09.020 --> 21:11.080 first of the so-called Catholic epistles. 21:11.780 --> 21:16.200 But it is to be observed that when it is disputed, at least not many of the 21:16.200 --> 21:20.400 ancients have mentioned it, as is the case likewise with the epistle that bears the 21:20.400 --> 21:24.720 name of Jude, which is also one of the seven so-called Catholic epistles. 21:25.560 --> 21:30.360 Nevertheless, we know that these also, with the rest, have been read publicly in 21:30.360 --> 21:31.540 very many churches. 21:34.380 --> 21:35.320 Chapter 24. 21:35.960 --> 21:39.760 Ananus, the first bishop of the church of Alexandria, after Mark. 21:40.340 --> 21:45.160 When Nero was in the eighth year of his reign, Ananus succeeded Mark the 21:45.160 --> 21:48.480 Evangelist in the administration of the parish of Alexandria. 21:50.460 --> 21:51.660 Chapter 25. 21:52.460 --> 21:56.780 The persecution under Nero in which Paul and Peter were honored at Rome with 21:56.780 --> 21:58.720 martyrdom in behalf of religion. 22:00.780 --> 22:05.780 When the government of Nero was now firmly established, he began to plunge into 22:05.780 --> 22:10.380 unholy pursuits and armed himself even against the religion of the God of the 22:10.380 --> 22:10.820 universe. 22:12.260 --> 22:16.860 To describe the greatness of his depravity does not lie within the plan of the 22:16.860 --> 22:17.560 present work. 22:18.180 --> 22:21.800 As there are many indeed that have recorded his history in most accurate 22:21.800 --> 22:26.360 narratives, everyone may at his pleasure learn from them the coarseness of the 22:26.360 --> 22:31.040 man's extraordinary madness, under the influence of which, after he had 22:31.040 --> 22:35.640 accomplished the destruction of so many myriads without any reason, he ran into 22:35.640 --> 22:39.380 such blood guiltiness that he did not spare even his nearest relatives and 22:39.380 --> 22:43.580 dearest friends, but destroyed his mother and his brothers and his wife, 22:44.100 --> 22:48.280 with very many others of his own family as he would private and public enemies, 22:48.820 --> 22:50.540 with various kinds of deaths. 22:52.640 --> 22:57.240 But with all these things, this particular in the catalogue of his crimes was still 22:57.240 --> 23:01.540 wanting that he was the first of the emperors who showed himself an enemy of 23:01.540 --> 23:02.600 the divine religion. 23:04.000 --> 23:07.500 The Roman Tertullian is likewise a witness of this. 23:07.920 --> 23:09.220 He writes as follows. 23:09.680 --> 23:10.900 Examine your records. 23:11.360 --> 23:14.800 There you will find that Nero was the first that persecuted this doctrine, 23:15.100 --> 23:20.080 particularly then when, after subduing all the East, he exercised his cruelty against 23:20.080 --> 23:21.060 all at Rome. 23:21.580 --> 23:25.340 We glory in having such a man, the leader, in our punishment. 23:25.840 --> 23:29.980 For whoever knows him can understand that nothing was condemned by Nero unless it 23:29.980 --> 23:31.520 was something of great excellence. 23:33.440 --> 23:37.580 Thus publicly announcing himself as the first among God's chief enemies, 23:38.040 --> 23:40.280 he was led on to the slaughter of the apostles. 23:41.140 --> 23:46.340 It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter 23:46.340 --> 23:48.500 likewise was crucified under Nero. 23:49.360 --> 23:53.420 This account of Peter and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names 23:53.420 --> 23:57.080 are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to the present day. 23:59.140 --> 24:03.960 It is confirmed likewise by Caius, a member of the church, who arose under 24:03.960 --> 24:05.780 Zephyrinus, bishop of Rome. 24:06.360 --> 24:10.480 He, in a published disputation with Proclus, the leader of the Phrygian 24:10.480 --> 24:15.080 heresy, speaks as follows concerning the places where the sacred corpses of the 24:15.080 --> 24:16.640 aforesaid apostles are laid. 24:30.100 --> 24:35.500 And that they both suffered martyrdom at the same time is stated by Dionysius, 24:35.660 --> 24:39.500 bishop of Corinth, in his epistle to the Romans, in the following words. 24:39.500 --> 24:44.700 You have thus by such an admonition bound together the planting of Peter and of Paul 24:44.700 --> 24:45.760 at Rome and Corinth. 24:46.460 --> 24:49.980 For both of them planted and likewise taught us in our Corinth. 24:50.380 --> 24:55.040 And they taught together in like manner in Italy, and suffered martyrdom at the same 24:55.040 --> 24:55.500 time. 24:56.420 --> 25:00.440 I have quoted these things in order that the truth of the history might be still 25:00.440 --> 25:01.380 more confirmed. 25:03.720 --> 25:05.000 Chapter 26. 25:05.340 --> 25:10.820 The Jews, afflicted with innumerable evils, commenced the last war against the 25:10.820 --> 25:11.120 Romans. 25:12.580 --> 25:17.380 Josephus again, after relating many things in connection with the calamity which came 25:17.380 --> 25:21.880 upon the whole Jewish nation, records, in addition to many other circumstances, 25:22.460 --> 25:26.600 that a great many of the most honorable among the Jews were scourged in Jerusalem 25:26.600 --> 25:29.560 itself and then crucified by Florus. 25:30.940 --> 25:35.600 It happened that he was procurator of Judea when the war began to be kindled in 25:35.600 --> 25:37.000 the twelfth year of Nero. 25:39.120 --> 25:43.480 Josephus says that at the time a terrible commotion was stirred up throughout all 25:43.480 --> 25:48.020 Syria in consequence of the revolt of the Jews, and that everywhere the latter were 25:48.020 --> 25:52.160 destroyed without mercy, like enemies, by the inhabitants of the cities, 25:52.560 --> 25:56.980 so that one could see cities filled with unburied corpses and the dead bodies of 25:56.980 --> 26:01.700 the aged scattered about with the bodies of infants, and women without even a 26:01.700 --> 26:05.840 covering for their nakedness, and the whole province full of indescribable 26:05.840 --> 26:09.840 calamities, while the dread of those things that were threatened was greater 26:09.840 --> 26:13.260 than the sufferings themselves which they anywhere endured. 26:14.380 --> 26:18.940 Such is the account of Josephus, and such was the condition of the Jews at 26:18.940 --> 26:19.560 that time. 26:20.680 --> 26:23.260 End of Book 2, Part 3.