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Augustus Germanicus was published； for permitting the Jews to
observe the laws of their country； not to obey the same； but have
acted in entire opposition thereto； as forbidding the Jews to
assemble together in the synagogue； by removing Caesar's statue；
and setting it up therein； and thereby have offended not only the
Jews； but the emperor himself； whose statue is more commodiously
placed in his own temple than in a foreign one； where is the
place of assembling together； while it is but a part of natural
justice； that every one should have the power over the place
belonging peculiarly to themselves； according to the
determination of Caesar； … to say nothing of my own
determination； which it would be ridiculous to mention after the
emperor's edict； which gives the Jews leave to make use of their
own customs； as also gives order that they enjoy equally the
rights of citizens with the Greeks themselves； … I therefore
ordain that Proculus Vitellius； the centurion； bring those men to
me； who； contrary to Augustus's edict； have been so insolent as
to do this thing； at which those very men； who appear to be of
principal reputation among them； have an indignation also； and
allege for themselves； 'that it was not done with their consent；
but by the violence of the multitude； that they may give an
account of what hath been done。 I also exhort the principal
magistrates among them； unless they have a mind to have this
action esteemed to be done with their consent； to inform the
centurion of those that were guilty of it； and take care that no
handle be hence taken for raising a sedition or quarrel among
them； which those seem to me to treat after who encourage such
doings； while both I myself； and king Agrippa； for whom I have
the highest honor； have nothing more under our care； than that
the nation of the Jews may have no occasion given them of getting
together； under the pretense of avenging themselves； and become
tumultuous。 And that it may be more publicly known what Augustus
hath resolved about this whole matter； I have subjoined those
edicts which he hath lately caused to be published at Alexandria；
and which； although they may be well known to all； yet did king
Agrippa； for whom I have the highest honor； read them at that
time before my tribunal； and pleaded that the Jews ought not to
be deprived of those rights which Augustus hath granted them。 I
therefore charge you； that you do not； for the time to come； seek
for any occasion of sedition or disturbance； but that every one
be allowed to follow their own religious customs。〃
4。 Thus did Petronius take care of this matter； that such a
breach of the law might be corrected； and that no such thing
might be attempted afterwards against the Jews。 And now king
Agrippa took the ＇high＇ priesthood away from Simon Cantheras； and
put Jonathan； the son of Ananus； into it again； and owned that he
was more worthy of that dignity than the other。 But this was not
a thing acceptable to him； to recover that his former dignity。 So
he refused it； and said； 〃O king！ I rejoice in the honor that
thou hast for me； and take it kindly that thou wouldst give me
such a dignity of thy own inclinations； although God hath judged
that I am not at all worthy of the high priesthood。 I am
satisfied with having once put on the sacred garments； for I then
put them on after a more holy manner than I should now receive
them again。 But if thou desirest that a person more worthy than
myself should have this honorable employment； give me leave to
name thee such a one。 I have a brother that is pure from all sin
against God； and of all offenses against thyself； I recommend him
to thee； as one that is fit for this dignity。〃 So the king was
pleased with these words of his； and passed by Jonathan； and；
according to his brother's desire； bestowed the high priesthood
upon Matthias。 Nor was it long before Marcus succeeded Petronius；
as president of Syria。
CHAPTER 7。
Concerning Silas And On What Account It Was That King Agrippa Was
Angry At Him。 How Agrippa Began To Encompass Jerusalem With A
Wall； And What Benefits He Bestowed On The Inhabitants Of
Berytus。
1。 Now Silas； the general of the king's horse； because he had
been faithful to him under all his misfortunes； and had never
refused to be a partaker with him in any of his dangers； but had
oftentimes undergone the most hazardous dangers for him； was full
of assurance； and thought he might expect a sort of equality with
the king； on account of the firmness of the friendship he had
showed to him。 Accordingly； he would no where let the king sit as
his superior； and took the like liberty in speaking to him upon
all occasions； till he became troublesome to the king； when they
were merry together； extolling himself beyond measure； and oft
putting the king in mind of the severity of fortune he had
undergone； that he might； by way of ostentation； demonstrate What
zeal he had showed in his service； and was continually harping
upon this string； what pains he had taken for him； and much
enlarged still upon that subject。 The repetition of this so
frequently seemed to reproach the king； insomuch that he took
this ungovernable liberty of talking very ill at his hands。 For
the commemoration of times when men have been under ignominy； is
by no means agreeable to them； and he is a very silly man who is
perpetually relating to a person what kindness he had done him。
At last； therefore； Silas had so thoroughly provoked the king's
indignation； that he acted rather out of passion than good
consideration； and did not only turn Silas out of his place； as
general of his horse； but sent him in bonds into his own country。
But the edge of his anger wore off by length of time； and made
room for more just reasonings as to his judgment about this man；
and he considered how many labors he had undergone for his sake。
So when Agrippa was solemnizing his birth…day； and he gave
festival entertainments to all his subjects； he sent for Silas on
the sudden to be his guest。 But as he was a very frank man； he
thought he had now a just handle given him to be angry； which he
could not conceal from those that came for him； but said to them；
〃What honor is this the king invites me to； which I conclude will
soon be over？ For the king hath not let me keep those original
marks of the good…will I bore him； which I once had from him； but
he hath plundered me； and that unjustly also。 Does he think that
I can leave off that liberty of speech； which； upon the
consciousness of my deserts； I shall use more loudly than before；
and shall relate how many misfortunes I have been delivered from；
how many labors I have undergone for him； whereby I procured him
deliverance and respect； as a reward for which I have borne the
hardships of bonds and a dark prison？ I shall never forget this
usage。 Nay； perhaps； my very soul； when it is departed out of the
body； will not forget the glorious actions I did on his account。〃
This was the clamor he made； and he ordered the messengers to
tell it to the king。 So he perceived that Silas was incurable in
his folly； and still suffered him to lie in prison。
2。 As for the walls of Jerusalem； that were adjoining to the new
city ＇Bezetha＇； he repaired them at the expense of the public；
and built them wider in breadth； and higher in altitude； and he
had made them too strong for all human power to demolish； unless
Marcus； the then president of Syria； had by letter informed
Claudius Caesar of what he was doing。 And when Claudius had some
suspicion of attempts for innovation； he sent to Agrippa to leave
off the building of those walls presently。 So he obeyed； as not
thinking it proper to contradict Claudius。
3。 Now this king was by nature very beneficent and liberal in his
gifts； and very ambitious to oblige people with such large
donations； and he made himself very illustrious by the many
chargeable presents he made them。 He took delight in giving； and
rejoiced in living with good reputation。 He was not at all like
that Herod who reigned before him； for that Herod was
ill…natured； and severe in his punishments； and had no mercy on
them that he hated； and every one perceived that he was more
friendly to the Greeks than to the Jews； for he adorned foreign
cities with large presents in money； with building them baths and
theatres besides； nay； in some of those places he erected
temples； and porticoes in others； but he did not vouchsafe to
raise one of the least edifices in any Jewish city； or make them
any donation that was worth mentioning。 But Agrippa's temper was
mild； and equally liberal to all men。 He was humane to
foreigners； and made them sensible of his liberality。 He was in
like manner rather of a gentle and compassionate temper。
Accordingly； he loved to live continually at Jerusalem； and was
exactly careful in the observance of the laws of his country。 He
therefore kept himself entirely pure； nor did any day pass over
his head without its appointed sacrifice。
4。 However； there was a certain mall of the Jewish nation at
Jerusalem； who appeared to be very accurate in the knowledge of
the law。 His name was Simon。 This man got together an assembly；
while the k