Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/74

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
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at his suggestion,) considered it much better, before any change should be attempted by him, to anticipate it by destroying him, than after a revolution, when involved in difficulties, to repent when it was too late. In consequence of Herod's suspicions, therefore, he was sent in bonds to the aforesaid prison of Machserus, and there slain." After relating these things concerning John, Josephus in the same work, also makes mention of our Saviour in the following manner: " About the same time, there was a certain Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it is proper to call him a man. For he performed extraordinary deeds; was a teacher of men, who received his doctrine with delight; and attached to himself many of the Jews, and many of the Greeks. This was Christ. Pilate having inflicted the punishment of the cross upon him, on the accusation of our principal men, those who had been attached to him before, did not, however, afterwards cease to love him: for he appeared to them alive again on the third day, according to the holy prophets, who had declared these and innumerable other wonderful things respecting him. The race of the Christians, who derive their name from him, likewise still continues." When such testimony as this is transmitted to us by an historian who sprung from the Hebrews themselves, both respecting John the Baptist and our Saviour, what subterfuge can be left, to prevent those from being convicted as shameless deceivers, who have forged the acts against them? This however, may suffice on this subject.

CHAPTER XII.

OF THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD.

The names of our Saviours apostles are sufficiently known to every one, from his gospels; but of the seventy disciples, no catalogue is given any where. Barnabas, indeed, is said to have been one of them, of whom there is distinguished notice in the Acts of the Apostles; and also in St. Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Sosthenes, who at the same time with Paul sent letters to the Corinthians, is said to have been one of these. Clement, in the fifth of his Hypotyposes