were allowed to live according to their own laws and the CLAUDIUS. rites of their ancestors, provided they did not abuse their liberty in disturbing the liberty of other nations. But Dion* assures us that when the Jews became numerous in Rome, he forbade all their public assemblies, and put down their colleges and their taverns where they usually met. Famine in Judæa- A.D. 44. 46. In the year 43, certain persons who had the gift of prophecy came from Jerusalem to Antioch; .one of whom, named Agabus, foretold† that there would be a great famine‡ through many parts of the world. The predicted affliction visited Judæa in the following year; whereupon the disciples in Antioch, having raised a subscription for the relief of their brethren in Judæa, sent it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the elders in Jerusalem (Acts xi. 30). This is the first time the word πрεσßúteρog is used in the New Testament: it has given rise to much controversy, because the distinction between Presbyter and Bishop is sometimes not clearly marked in the sacred writings. Dr. Short says, "there is much indistinctness about the names of Bishop and Priest, or Elder * A profane historian of the | preternaturally supplied; and (2) third century. the power of foretelling future events. †This is an instance of those preternatural gifts of the Spirit which were so plentifully vouchsafed to the early Christians. In the New Testament the gift of prophecy is spoken of in two distinct meanings:-(1) the power of interpreting the Scriptures, This famine prevailed at Rome in the second year of Claudius; in Judæa in the four following years; in Greece in the ninth year; and again at Rome in the tenth and eleventh years. How is the gift 46. When did the famine occur in Judæa,'and what was the conduct of the Christians in Antioch? By whom was it foretold? *[Note]. of prophecy spoken of in the New Testament? What is Dr. Short's opinion upon the distinction between Bishop and Presbyter? E CLAUDIUS. [πPEOẞÚrepoc]; but if we suppose by way of hypothesis that there were Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, we shall find no statements which cannot be easily reconciled with the supposition." Agrippa the ElderDeath of James. 47. The accession of Caligula led to the advancement of Herod Agrippa the elder, son of Aristobulus, and grandson of Herod the Great. He was aspiring, politic, and insinuating, and zealous for Judaism and the Mosaic rites. Having run through various changes of fortune, he eventually gained the special favour of Tiberius, by whom, upon some suspicion of his intentions arising, he was thrown into prison. He had also contracted a friendship with Caligula, who, upon obtaining imperial authority, released him from prison, and made him king of all his uncle Philip's dominions, with the addition of the tetrarchy of Abilene, in Syria. Claudius completed his honours and sovereignty, adding Samaria, Judæa, and Idumea to his former dominions of Trachonitis, Galilee, Peræa, and Abilene, conferring consular honours upon him, giving him the superintendence of the Temple and the appointment of the High Priest, and moreover bestowing the small kingdom of Chalcis, at the foot of Mount Libanus, on his brother Herod. Thus Agrippa possessed nearly all the territories of his grandfather, Herod the Great, and the whole country of Palestine was in his person again governed by a Jewish prince,* * See Paley's Evidences, part ii. c. 6. 47. Give a short history of Agrippa the elder. What was his conduct to the Christians during the prevalence of the famine in Judæa? Who was the Apostolic protomartyr? What effect had his constancy upon his accuser? Clemens and in this sense restored to independence. During the CLAUDIUS. prevalence of the famine foretold by Agabus, the Christians at Jerusalem, who for ten years before had met with no great disturbance, suffered from a sharp persecution raised against them by King Herod Agrippa. Desirous to ingratiate himself with the Jews, he struck at the Apostles themselves, and began with James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, whom he "killed with the sword" (Acts xii. 2). Thus fell James, surA.D. 44. named the Great, the Apostolic protomartyr, the first of that number who gained the crown. Alexandrinus relates that his accuser, convinced by the extraordinary courage and constancy displayed by James at his trial, publicly professed himself a Christian, and was beheaded at the same time as the Apostle. The death of James was so gratifying to the Jews, that Agrippa proceeded to apprehend Peter also, and committed him to prison, designing to have him executed immediately after the feast of the Passover. But Peter was miraculously delivered by an angel, and withdrew himself to a place of greater security. Upon this the King, having commanded the keepers of the prison to be put to death, departed from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, where he was seized with a loathsome malady, and died miserably, after enduring exquisite torments in his bowels for five days. The memory of this first prince who dipped his hands in the blood of the Apostles was insulted by the inhabitants of Cæsarea and Samaria, who adorned themselves with garlands, and made offerings to Charon for joy at his death. CLAUDIUS. Subsequent Government of Palestine. 48. Herod Agrippa left one son, called also Agrippa, and three daughters. Agrippa the younger was only 17 years old when his father died: he was at that time with the Emperor at Rome, and would probably have obtained his father's kingdom, had not Claudius been persuaded that it would be dangerous to commit it to a youth. Judæa thereupon became again subject to a Roman Procurator; and not only Judæa, but all the territories held by Agrippa the elder. Caspius Fadus was appointed the first Procurator, upon this renewal of the office; he was succeeded by Tiberius Alexander, Ventidius Cumanus, Felix, Porcius Festus, Albinus, and Gessius Florus. Four years after his father's death, Agrippa, being then 21 years old, obtained from the Emperor the kingdom of Chalcis, vacated by the death of his uncle Herod, and with it the superintendence of the Temple and the appointment of the High Priest. In the year 52, Claudius transferred him to Trachonitis and the adjoining district. 49. About the time of Agrippa's death, Saul and Barnabas, having disposed of their contributions at Jerusalem, returned to Antioch, where a divine revelation was made that these two should be set apart for the service of the Gentiles (Acts xiii. 2). They were accordingly ordained to be ministers of the uncircumcision. From this joint commission Barnabas also obtained the name of Apostle : St. Jerome calls him the fourteenth Apostle, and the Greek and Latin Church ever honoured him as such. The Service of A.D. 44. the} 48. How was Palestine governed after the death of Herod Agrippa? Dispersion of the A.D. 45. } 50. For twelve years after the CLAUDIUS. Ascension all the Apostles, except St. Paul, confined themselves in a manner to Palestine; but now the time was come when, according to their Lord's command, they were to disperse and preach the Gospel in all parts of the world. Some suppose that before their departure they composed the Apostles' Creed* and the Apostles' Canons; but most learned men are satisfied that both belong to later times. The part of the world which each Apostle should take was probably decided by lot, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Peter went into Pontus, Galatia, and Lesser Asia. Andrew had Scythia and Sogdiana allotted to him; though afterwards he is supposed to have turned towards Greece, and founded the Bishoprick of Byzantium. John's portion was partly It is probable that this creed | arose from small beginnings, (1 Pet. iii. 21-1 Tim. vi. 22-Heb. x. 22, 23,) and was gradually enlarged, as occasion required, in order to exclude new errors from the Church. It appears to have been the general creed of the Church from, at least, the close of the second century, for we have a clear exposition of it in Irenæus' Treatise against Heresies; nor did it undergo any very great or material change. The common form of it in the fourth century was the following:-"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten son, 50. How long after the Ascension did the Apostles, with one exception, confine themselves to Palestine ? When they dispersed, what was the destination of each? *[Note.] What was the origin of the Apostles' Creed? What is the earliest notice of it? |