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}

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}

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.''

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:

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}

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}

6519. In a long speech before the high priest (Annas) and the council, Stephen showed that the true worship of God was observed by Abraham and his posterity before the temple was built by Solomon and even before Moses was born. He stated that Moses testified of Christ and that the outward ceremonies that were given to their fathers, were only to last for a time. Then, he sharply reprehended the Jews because they had always resisted the Holy Ghost and had wickedly put Christ to death whom the prophets had foretold would come into the world. Thereupon, the council was mad with rage and they cast that holy man out of the city and stoned him to death while he was praying for them. {Ac 7:1-60}

6520. Before the witnesses (according to the law, {De 17:7}) were about to throw the first stones at Stephen, they laid their garments at a young man's feet called Saul. He watched their clothes and consented to the death of Stephen. {Ac 7:58 8:1 22:20} Saul was a man, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin, born at Tarsus in Cilicia which Strabo stated was a famous city for the study of philosophy and the liberal sciences. {*Strabo, l. 14. 6:347} Saul was of the sect of the Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. At that time he studied divinity in Jerusalem in the synagogue of the Cilicians. He frequented the school of Gamaliel who was that famous doctor among the Pharisees and a most strict observer of the law of Moses and of the traditions delivered to the fathers. {Ac 21:39 22:3 23:6,34 26:4,5 2Co 11:22 Ga 1:14 Php 3:5,6}

6521. Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made a great lamentation for him. {Ac 8:2}

6522. Aelius Lamia died at Rome who was the absentee governor of Syria. Flaccus Pomponius, the true governor of Syria, died in the province. {Tacitus, Annals, 6. c. 27.} {Suetonius, Tiberius, c. 42.}

4037b AM, 4747 JP, 34 AD

6523. Herod Agrippa had his daughter Mariamme by Cypros, ten years before his death. {Josephus, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 5. 1:485> l. 19. c. ult. <c. 8. 1:524>}

6524. There arose a great persecution after the death of Stephen against the whole church which was at Jerusalem. {Ac 8:1 11:19} Saul in an exceedingly great rage, made havock of the church. He received authority from the chief priests and he testified against the saints who were killed. He also entered into every house and took captive men and women. He bound and put them in prison and often beat them in every synagogue. He compelled some to deny Christ and to blaspheme while he persecuted to death others who kept the faith. {Ac 8:1 9:13,21 22:4,5,19 26:9-11 Ga 1:13,23 Php 3:6 1Ti 1:13}

6525. This persecution dispersed the church into various countries but was for the great advantage of the church. The apostles were left alone at Jerusalem while the rest, of whom there were some thousands, {Ac 2:41 4:4} were dispersed into the regions of Judea and Samaria. They preached the gospel wherever they went. {Ac 8:1-4} Others went to Damascus, {Ac 9:19,25} among whom was Ananias, a devout man according to the law and one who had a good report among all the Jews who lived there. {Ac 22:12} It is very likely that others went even to Rome itself and among them Junias and Andronicus who were of note among the apostles and relatives of this persecutor, Paul. They had embraced the faith before him. {Ro 16:7} Others travelled as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch and preached the word of God to the Jews only. {Ac 11:19} That is to those who were dispersed among the Gentiles. {Jas 1:1 1Pe 1:1}

6526. Philip was among those who went to Samaria. He was the second in order after Stephen the first martyr among the seven that were chosen. {Ac 8:5 21:8} Philip came into the city of Samaria and preached Christ there. The people with one accord listened to what he said. They saw the miracles which he did, for unclean spirits cried out with a loud voice and came out of many. He healed many who were stricken with palsies and who were lame. There was great joy in that city and many men and women believed and were baptized. Also Simon Magus listened to Philip. For a long time Simon had bewitched the people of Samaria with his sorceries. Everyone said this was the great power of God. When Simon saw the great signs and wonders which Philip did, he believed and was baptized also. {Ac 8:5-13}

6527. When the apostles, who were at Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of the Lord, they sent Peter and John to them. When they prayed and laid their hands on them, the new converts received the Holy Ghost. When Simon Magus saw this, he offered them money so that he also might receive the gift of conferring the Holy Ghost. Peter sharply rebuked his mad impiety and warned him to repent of his wickedness and to ask pardon from God. Simon desired the apostles to pray for him to the Lord. When they had completed their ministry in those regions, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in the villages of Samaria as they went. {Ac 8:14-25}

6528. After many ages had past, a bird called the Phoenix returned to Egypt and the learned Egyptians and the Greeks discussed many things about this miracle. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 28.} Dio stated that this bird appeared in Egypt two years later. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}

6529. Philip the tetrarch who was always reputed a modest man and a lover of ease and quietness, died in the twentieth year of Tiberius. He had governed Trachonitis, Gaulanitis, and Batanaea for thirty seven years and died at Julias. He was put in a monument that he built previously for himself in which he was magnificently and sumptuously interred. Since he died without children, Tiberius annexed that principality to the province of Syria. However, the tributes which were collected in this tetrarchy, were to be kept within the borders of that country. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}

6530. At Rome in this twentieth year of Tiberius' reign, the consuls, Lucius Vitellius and Fabius Priscus held the ten years games that they might as it were extend the government for him, as it used to be done to Augustus. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:247}

6531. In this year, (as Dio has it) or three years later (as Tacitus hints at the end of the fifth book of his annals) this story is told. A certain young man said that he was Drusius Germanicus' son. He was seen first in the islands of the Cyclades and soon after that on the continent of Greece and Ionia. He was attended by some of Caesar's freed men. The ignorant were allured by the fame of his name and by the minds of the Greeks ready for new and wonderful things. For they pretended and also believed that if he could get from those who kept him, he would go to his father's armies and would invade Egypt or Syria. When Poppaeus Sabinus heard these things, who was in charge of Macedonia and Achaia, he entered Nicopolis which was a Roman colony. There he knew that the young man who when he was more closely examined, had said that he was Marcus Silanus' son and that many of his followers had sailed away and he sailed as if he would go to Italy. Tacitus says he was never seen again and this was the end of the matter. However, Dio added that this impostor was willingly received by the cities and strengthened with troops. He would have had without doubt come into Syria and taken over the armies had not someone recognised him and apprehended him and sent him to Tiberius. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 5. c. 10.} {*Dio, l. 58. 7:249}

4038a AM, 4747 JP, 34 AD

6532. Philip the Evangelist, was directed by an angel and went to Gaza which is a desert. See note on 3672 AM <<1827>>. He met an eunuch, who had the charge of the treasure of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, (in Meroe) and was returning in his chariot from Jerusalem where he had been to worship. He was reading from Isaiah when the Spirit told Philip to go to him. Philip instructed him in the faith of Christ and baptized him. Philip was immediately caught away out of his sight by the Spirit of the Lord and was found at Azotus. He passed through the country and he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. {Ac 8:26-40}

4038b AM, 4748 JP, 35 AD

6533. Saul was still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord and obtained letters from the high priest (Annas, {Ac 4:6} and the council of which he was then president) for the synagogues of Damascus. They stated that if he found any who were Christians, he was to bring them bound to Jerusalem so that they might be punished. As he came near Damascus at noon, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone around him and those who were with him. When they had all fallen to the earth, he heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew language:

``Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.'' {Ac 26:16}

6534. He asked who it was and was told:

``I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest, but rise and stand upon thy feet, I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of those things that thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in me.'' {Ac 26:15-18}

6535. Saul was trembling and full of fear and asked what the Lord would have him do. He was told to go to Damascus and await further instructions. The men who journeyed with Saul were so amazed that they were speechless. They saw the light and heard a sound of words but did not see Christ who spoke nor understood anything that he spoke. {Ac 9:1-7 22:5-14 26:12-18}

6536. Saul arose from the earth and was blinded with the glory of the light. They led him by the hand to Damascus {Ac 9:8 22:11} where he stayed for three days without sight and did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple named Ananias, to whom the Lord spoke by a vision. He was told to go to the street called Straight and enquire for Saul of Tarsus in the house of Judas. The Lord told him that Saul was praying. (Then Saul saw in a vision, Ananias coming and laying his hands on him that he might receive his sight.) Ananias objected that he had heard of this fellow and he had power from the religious leaders in Jerusalem to take all the Christians. The Lord told Ananias to go, for Saul would become a great missionary and witness for Christianity and would suffer much for it. Ananias went to the house and laid his hands on Saul. He told Saul that Jesus had appeared to him on his way to Damascus and he had come to restore his sight and to anoint him with the Holy Ghost. Immediately, there fell from his eyes as it were scales and he received his sight. {Ac 9:9-18}

6537. Ananias told him:

``The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that just one, and shouldest hear the voice from his mouth, for thou shalt be a witness before all men, of those things that thou hast heard and seen: and now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized and be washed from thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'' {Ac 22:14-16}

6538. Saul arose and was baptized. He ate and was strengthened. {Ac 9:18,19}

6539. Luke does not tell us in Acts what was revealed from the Lord to Saul at Damascus that he should do. We learn what happened immediately after his conversion from the book of Galatians. He was told not to confer with men nor go to Jerusalem to the apostles but should spend some time in Arabia or places near Damascus. There he would receive the knowledge of the gospel not from men but directly from Jesus Christ. {Ga 1:12,16,17.}

6540. After this, Saul returned to Damascus {Ga 1:17} and spent a few days with the disciples. He immediately preached in the synagogues that Christ was the Son of God. They were all amazed who heard these things, and said that is not this the one who came from Jerusalem to bind the Christians to take them back to Jerusalem. Saul increased in strength more and more and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus and taught that Jesus was the Christ. {Ac 9:19-22} He first preached the gospel to the Jews who lived in Damascus. {Ac 26:20}

6541. Tiberius was informed by Pilate from Palestine, concerning the affairs of Christ. Tiberius proposed to the senate that Christ should be considered one of the gods. The senate opposed this but Tiberius did not change his mind and threatened that:

``it would be dangerous for any to accuse a Christian''

6542. So it is related by Tertullian {Tertullian, Apologetic, c. 5, 21.} and others that follow him. {Eusebius, Chronicles} {Eusebius, History Eccles., l. 2. c. 2.} Our English writer, Gildas in a letter about the destruction of Britain, which if granted, we may correctly say, that the first persecution after the murder of Stephen which arose in Judaea ceased partly by the conversion of Saul who greatly promoted it and partly through the fear of Tiberius.

6543. L. Vitellius who the year before was consul at Rome, was sent by Tiberius as the proconsul for Syria. He arrived in Jerusalem, at the very feast of the passover and received an honourable welcome. He remited the whole tribute of the fruits put out for sale and allowed that the high priest's garment with all that belonged to it should be stored in the temple by the priests. It was formerly kept by the Roman governor in the citadel of Antonia. Thus he satisfied the Jews. He put Jonathan the son of Ananus (or Annas) for the high priest instead of Joseph Caiaphas. He then went to Antioch. {Josephus, l. 15. c. ult. <c. l1. 1:424> 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:482,483>}

6544. After Artaxias, the king of Armenia had died, Artabanus, the king of Parthia, made Arsaces, the oldest of his children, to be king over the Armenians. Since Tiberius did not object or interfere, he made an attempt on Cappadocia and demanded the treasure left by Vonones in Syria and Cilicia and asserted his right to the ancient boundaries of the Persians and Macedonians. He bragged and threatened that he would invade all that was possessed by Cyrus or Alexander. Sinnaces was a rich noble man and was supported by Abdus, an eunuch. They drew away the principal men of the Parthians to them. They could find no suitable descendants for Arsacides the king, since most of them were killed by Artabanus or too young to be king. They sent secret messengers to Tiberius to request for their king, Phraates, the son of Phraates, the son of Phraates the 3rd who was kept hostage at Rome. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 31.} {Dio, l. 58. 7:251,253}

6545. Tiberius sent Phraates sufficiently armed into his father's kingdom and manipulated foreign policy by astute diplomacy without warfare while he stayed quietly in Rome. In the meantime, these conspiracies became known. Artabanus invited Abdus under the pretence of friendship to a banquet and gave him a slow poison. He pretended friendship to Sinnaces with gifts and kept him busy doing other things. When Phraates came into Syria, he abandoned the Roman manner of life to which he had been accustomed and resumed the Parthian customs. He was unable to handle his country manners and fell sick and died. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 32.}

6546. After the death of Phraates, Tiberius sent Tiridates 3rd who was from the same royal family and who was an enemy to Artabanus. To help him get the kingdom quicker, Tiberius wrote to Mithridates the Iberian that he should invade Armenia. Tiberius hoped by this means to draw Artabanus from his own kingdom while he helped his son. To this end, he reconciled Mithridates to his brother Pharasmanes, who succeeded his father Mithridates in the kingdom of Iberia. He egged on Pharasmanes himself and the king of the Alanes with large gifts, to suddenly make war on Artabanus. Tiberius made L. Vitellius the general over all these preparations in the east. {Tacitus, l. 6. c. 32.} {Josephus, Antiq, l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>} {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}

6547. Mithridates induced his brother Pharasmenes to advance his endeavours by policy and force. Arsaces, the son of Artabanus, was killed by his servants who were bribed to do this by large sums of gold. The Iberians invaded Armenia and destroyed the city Artaxara. When Artabanus knew these things, he outfitted his son Orodes to revenge it. He gave him the Parthian troops and sent others to get mercenaries. On the other side, Pharasmenes allied himself to Albanius and summoned the Samaritans to his help whose princes are called "Sceptruchi." When the Samaritans had received gifts from both sides as the custom of that country was, it supplied troops to both sides. The Iberians controlled all the passes and had the Samaritans enter Armenia by the Caspian passes. Those Samaritans who came from the Parthians were easily driven back. There was only one pass available to them and it was between the farthest Albanian Mountains and the shore of the Caspian Sea. It is impassable in the summer because the Etesian gales flood the seaboard . {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 33.} {Josephus, Antiq. l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}

6548. When Pharasmenes had received reinforcements, he forced Orodes to fight who was destitute of his allies. In the battle, he wounded Orodes through his helmet but could not hit him again because he was carried away with his horse and the stoutest of his guard defended their wounded king. Nevertheless a false rumour spread that he was slain and the Parthians believed it and were appalled and lost the battle. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 34,35.} Hence the Parthians lost Armenia again {Josephus, l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>} and it was given to Mithridates of Iberia. {*Dio, l. 58. 7:253}

4039a AM, 4748 JP, 35 AD

6549. Immediately after this, Artabanus went with the whole strength of his kingdom to revenge this. However the Iberians were successful through their better knowledge of the terrain. Artabanus would not have given up had not Vitellius gathered together his legions and spread a rumour, as if he would invade Mesopotamia. Artabanus was afraid of the Roman forces. After this Artabanus' fortune declined. He lost Armenia and Vitellius enticed his subjects to abandon their king who was a tyrant in peace and unlucky in war. Thereupon Sinnaces had a secret conference with Abdageses and others and made them revolt. The way was already prepared by the continual Parthian defeats. His subjects served through fear not good will and were encouraged when they had captains to follow. Vitellius bribed some friends and relatives of Artabanus to try to kill him. When Artabanus knew of the conspiracy, he could not find any way to thwart it. He was in danger from his nobility and he suspected even those who remained under his protection. He fled to the higher provinces and places near to Scythia and hoped for help from the Carmanians and Hyrcanians with whom he was related by marriage. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 36.} {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 6. <c. 4. 1:483>}

4039b AM, 4749 JP, 36 AD

6550. Agrippa, the son of Aristobulus, when he was in great financial need at Ptolemais, borrowed money at interest from Protus a freed man and previously from his mother Bernice who had died. He used the help of Marsyas, his own freed-man. He extorted from Marsyas a bill of his hand for 20,000 Attic drachmas deducting out of that sum 2500 for Marsyas himself which he might the easier do because Agrippa could not otherwise choose otherwise. (??) When he got this money, he went to Anthedon and prepared to sail to Italy. When Herennius Capito, the procurator of Jamnia heard that he was there, he sent soldiers there to exact of Agrippa the 300,000 drachmas of silver he owed to Caesar's treasury when he lived at Rome. By this means he was forced to stay. Thereupon he made a pretence of obeying their commands but as soon as it was night, he cut his cables and sailed to Alexandria. There, he offered to borrow from Alexander Alabarcha 200,000 drachmas of silver. He said that he would lend him nothing but would lend to his wife Cypros for he admired in her, her love for her husband and her other virtues. When she had become his security, Alexander Alabarcha advanced him five talents at Alexandria. He promised to deliver the rest to him at Puteoli because he feared Agrippa would be a bad debt. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 7,8. <c. 6. 1:486,487>}

6551. Philo, the Jew, mentions the arrival of Agrippa to the city of Alexandria {Philo, Flaccus} when Flaccus was at that time governor of Egypt. Josephus stated that Philo was the brother of Alexander Alabarcha. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 10. <c. 8. 494>} Jerome also states in his catalogue of ecclesiastical writers, that Philo was of the same family of the priests. Thereupon Baronius (on 34 AD, numb. 265.) thinks Philo to be none other than that Alexander {Ac 4:6} who is said to be of the family of the Priests. However, this was that Alexander Lysimachus, who bore the office of alabarch (a governor of the Jews) at Alexandria, (of whom Juvenal in his first satire) and previously was the steward of Antonia, the mother of the Emperor Claudius and father of Tiberius Alexander, the governor of Judea. Alexander was the richest of all the Jews of Alexandria. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 19. c. 4. <c. 5. 1:519> l. 20. c. 3. <c. 5. 1:531>} He melted gold and silver for the gates of the temple at Jerusalem, (and not his father, as Baronius wrote in the previously mentioned place.) {Josephus, Wars, l. 6. c. 6.}

6552. When Cypros had supplied her husband for his journey to Italy, she returned with her children to Judea by land. When Agrippa came to Puteoli, he wrote to Tiberius Caesar who was then living at Capreae. He told him that he had come so far to see him and asked permission to come to the island. Tiberius immediately wrote back a kind answer that he would be glad to see him at Capreae. Tiberius received him with great cheerfulness when he came and embraced and lodged him. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. 8. <c. 1:487>}

6553. The next day, Caesar received letters from Herennius concerning the 300,000 of silver drachmas Agrippa owed. Tiberius ordered those of his house that Agrippa should not be admitted until he had paid the debt. He was dismayed at Caesar's displeasure and begged Antonia, the mother of Germanicus and Claudius, (later Emperor) that she would lend him 300,000 drachmas lest he should loose the friendship of Caesar. She recalled the friendship her and Bernice, Agrippa's mother and that he had been brought up with her son Claudius and so lent him the money. He paid his debt and regained Tiberius' favour and was so thoroughly reconciled to Caesar that he commended to Agrippa's charge, his nephew (Tiberius the twin) the son of Drusus. He ordered him that he should dutifully attend him wherever he went. Since he was deeply obliged to Antonia for this benefit, he began to reverence Caius (Caligula) her nephew, who was gracious in all men's eyes and honoured for the memory of his father. There was there by chance at the same time, Thallus, a Samaritan, from whom he borrowed 1,000,000 Drachmas and repaid Antonia's debt. He kept the rest so he could more honourably attend to Caius. {Josephus, Antiq., l. 18. c. ? <c. 6. 1:487>}

6554. Tigranes was the son of Alexander (that was killed by his father Herod) and of Glaphyra, (the daughter of Archelaus, King of the Cappadocians.) He had turned from the Jews to the Greek's religion and was the king of Armenia for a time. He was accused at Rome and there punished and died without children. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 40.} {Josephus, Annals, l. 18. c. 7. <c. 485,486>}

6555. The Cietae, a tribe in Cilicia Thrachea, were subject to Archelaus the Cappadocian. They were compelled after the Roman custom, to bring in the value of their annual revenues and to pay tribute. They fled to the Taurus Mountain and there defended themselves by the strong location of the place, against the weak forces of their king. Finally, M. Trebellius was sent from Vitellius, president of Syria, with 4000 legionary soldiers and some choice auxiliaries. They surrounded the two hills with works which the barbarians occupied. The smaller hill was called Cadra and the other one, Davara. (Tavara ??) They killed any who dared leave their holds and compelled the rest to surrender for want of water. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 41.}

6556. After Artabanus had fled, the minds of the people were inclined to a new king. Vitellius persuaded Tiridates to seize the opportunity and led his legions and auxiliaries to the bank of the Euphrates River. As they were sacrificing, some prepared Suovetaurilia, (a boar, a ram, and a bull offered to Mars) according to the custom of the Romans. Others prepared an horse to sacrifice to pacify the river. The inhabitants about the Euphrates River told them that the river had exceedingly risen of its own accord, without any heavy rains. They also said that the white froth made circles in the form of a diadem which was an omen of a prosperous journey. However, others interpreted it more subtilly that the beginnings of their expedition would be prosperous but not long lasting. They said this because they gave more credit to those things which were portended by the earth and heaven and the nature of rivers was not constant. If the rivers did show any good signs, they soon disappeared. Vitellius made a bridge from boats and crossed over the river with his army. Orospades came to his camp with many thousands of cavalry and joined him. He was once a banished man and brought considerable aid to Tiberius when he warred in Dalmatia. For that, Tiberius made him a citizen of Rome. After this, he entered anew into the king's favour and he made him governor of Mesopotamia. Not long after that Sinnaces joined Tigranes as well as the Abdageses. They were tbe mainstay of his side and brought him the court treasure and royal regalia. Vitellius thought it enough to have shown the Roman forces and admonished Tiridates that he should remember his grandfather Phraates and his upbringing with Caesar. He should consider the nobles so that they would be obedient to their king and he should reverence the Romans. Everyone should keep their word. Then Vitellius returned with his legions to Syria. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 37.}

6557. Tiridates received from the Parthians the cities of Nicophorium, Anthemusias and the other cities of Macedonia who spoke Greek. Also Halus and Artemita, cities of Parthia, greatly rejoiced for they hated the cruelty of Artabanus who was brought up among the Scythians. They hoped that Tiridates would be gentle sonce he was raised among the Romans. The Seleucians use much flattery and said their city was strong and walled about, not corrupted with barbarity but kept the laws of their founder, Seleucus. When Tiridates arrived there, they highly honoured him and reproached Artabanus as one indeed that was of the family of the Arsacidae on his mother's side but in all other things he had degenerated. Tiridates committed the government of the country to the people, whereas Artabanus had delivered it to the rule of 300 of the nobility. {Tacitus, Annals, l. 6. c. 41,42.}

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