The second mention of Jesus in the
Antiquities (Book 20, Ch. 9, Par. 1).
Now it is said that the elder Ananus was
extremely fortunate...but the younger Ananus, who had been appointed
to the high priesthood, was rash in his temper and unusually daring.
He followed the school of the Sadducees, who are indeed more
heartless than any of the other Jews, as I have already explained,
when they sit in judgment. Possessed of such a character, Ananus
thought that he had a favourable opportunity because Festus was dead
and Albinas was still on the way. And so he convened the judges of
the Sanhedrin, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, the
one called Christ, whose name was James, and certain others, and
accusing them of having transgressed the law delivered them up to be
stoned. Those of the inhabits of the city who were considered the
most fair-minded and who were strict in observance of the law were
offended at this. They therefore secretly sent to King Agrippa
urging him, for Ananus had not even been correct in his first step,
to order him to desist from any further such actions. Certain of
them even went to meet Albinus, who was on his way from Alexandria,
and informed him that Ananus had no authority to convene the
Sanhedrin without his consent. Convinced by these words, Albinus
angrily wrote to Ananus threatening to take vengeance upon him.
King Agrippa, because of Ananus' action, deposed him from the high
priesthood which he had held for three months and replaced him with
Jesus the son of Damnaeus.
|