Eusebus Pamphilia Parts 1,2 and 3

BOOK I CHAPTER XI Testimonies in Regard to John the Baptist and Christ.

93 period of his teaching was completed. Since he began his work during the high priesthood of Annas and taught until Caiaphas held the office, the entire time does not comprise quite four years.

3. For the rites of the law having been already abolished since that time, the customary usages in connection with the worship of God, according to which the high priest acquired his office by hereditary descent and held it for life, were also annulled and there were appointed to the high priesthood by the Roman governors now one and now another person who continued in office not more than one year.171 4. Josephus relates that there were four high priests in succession from Annas to Caiaphas. Thus in the same book of the Antiquities172 he writes as follows: “Valerius Gratus173 having put an end to the priesthood of Ananus174 appoints Ishmael,175 the son of Fabi, high priest. And having removed him after a little he appoints Eleazer,176 the son of Ananus the high priest, to the same office. And having removed him also at the end of a year he gives the high priesthood to Simon,177 the son of Camithus. But he likewise held the honor no more than a year, when Josephus, called also Caiaphas,178 succeeded him.” Accordingly the whole time of our Saviour’s ministry is shown to have been not quite four full years, four high priests, from Annas to the accession of Caiaphas, having held office a year each. The Gospel therefore has rightly indicated Caiaphas as the high priest under whom the Saviour suffered. From which also we can see that the time of our Saviour’s ministry does not disagree with the foregoing investigation.

5. Our Saviour and Lord, not long after the beginning of his ministry, called the twelve apostles,179 and these alone of all his disciples he named apostles, as an especial honor. And again he appointed seventy others whom he sent out two by two before his face into every place and city whither he himself was about to come.180 CHAPTER XI. Testimonies in Regard to John the Baptist and Christ.

1. Not long after this John the Baptist was beheaded by the younger Herod,181 as is stated in the Gospels.188 Josephus also records the same fact,182 making mention of Herodias183 by name, and stating that, although she was the wife of his brother, Herod made her his own wife after divorcing his former lawful wife, who was the daughter of Aretas,184 king of Petra, and separating Herodias from her husband while he was still alive.

171 It is true that under the Roman governors the high priests were frequently changed (cf. above, chap. 6, note 19), but there was no regularly prescribed interval, and some continued in office for many years; for instance, Caiaphas was high priest for more than ten years, during the whole of Pilate’s administration, having been appointed by Valerius Gratus, Pilate’s predecessor, and his successor being appointed by the Proconsul Vitellius in 37 a.d. (vid. Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 2. 2 and 4. 3).

172 Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 2.2.

173 This Valerius Gratus was made procurator by Tiberius, soon after his accession, and ruled about eleven years, when he was succeeded by Pilate in 26 a.d.

174 Ananus (or Annas) was appointed high priest by Quirinius, governor of Syria, in 6 or 7 a.d. (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 2. 1), and remained in office until a.d. 14 or 15, when he was deposed by Valerius Gratus (ib. §2). This forms another instance, therefore, of a term of office more than one year in length. Annas is a familiar personage from his connection with the Gospel history; but the exact position which he occupied during Christ’s ministry is difficult to determine (cf. Wieseler’s Chronology of the Life of Christ).

175 Either this Ishmael must have held the office eight or ten years, or else Caiaphas that long before Pilate’s time, for otherwise Gratus’ period is not filled up. Josephus’ statement is indefinite in regard to Ishmael, and Eusebius is wrong in confining his term of office to one year.

176 According to Josephus, Ant. XX. 9. 1, five of the sons of Annas became high priests.

177 This Simon is an otherwise unknown personage.

178 Joseph Caiaphas, son-in-law of Annas, is well known from his connection with the Gospel history.

179 See Matt. x. 1–4; Mark iii. 14–19; Luke vi. 13–16 180 See Luke x. 1 181 Herod Antipas.

182 Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 5. 2.

183 Aretas Æneas is identical with the Aretas mentioned in 2 Cor. xi. 32, in connection with Paul’s flight from Jerusalem (cf. Wieseler, Chron. des ap. Zeitalters, p. 142 and 167 sq.). He was king of Arabia Nabatæa, whose capital was the famous rock city, Petra, which gave its name to the whole country, which was in consequence commonly called Arabia Petræa.

184 Aretas Æneas is identical with the Aretas mentioned in 2 Cor. xi. 32, in connection with Paul’s flight from Jerusalem (cf. Wie-