durst they trust them any longer； but； in the midst of their suspicions and guarding of themselves； they were slain。 Such was the celerity of the plotters against them； and so cunning was their contrivance。
4。 There was also another body of wicked men gotten together； not so impure in their actions； but more wicked in their intentions； which laid waste the happy state of the city no less than did these murderers。 These were such men as deceived and deluded the people under pretense of Divine inspiration； but were for procuring innovations and changes of the government； and these prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen； and went before them into the wilderness； as pretending that God would there show them the signals of liberty。 But Felix thought this procedure was to be the beginning of a revolt； so he sent some horsemen and footmen both armed； who destroyed a great number of them。
5。 But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former； for he was a cheat； and pretended to be a prophet also； and got together thirty thousand men that were deluded by him； these he led round about from the wilderness to the mount which was called the Mount of Olives； and was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place； and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people； he intended to domineer over them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him。 But Felix prevented his attempt； and met him with his Roman soldiers； while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them； insomuch that when it came to a battle； the Egyptian ran away； with a few others； while the greatest part of those that were with him were either destroyed or taken alive； but the rest of the multitude were dispersed every one to their own homes； and there concealed themselves。
6。 Now when these were quieted； it happened； as it does in a diseased body； that another part was subject to an inflammation； for a company of deceivers and robbers got together； and persuaded the Jews to revolt； and exhorted them to assert their liberty； inflicting death on those that continued in obedience to the Roman government； and saying； that such as willingly chose slavery ought to be forced from such their desired inclinations； for they parted themselves into different bodies； and lay in wait up and down the country； and plundered the houses of the great men； and slew the men themselves； and set the villages on fire； and this till all Judea was filled with the effects of their madness。 And thus the flame was every day more and more blown up； till it came to a direct war。
7。 There was also another disturbance at Cesarea； … those Jews who were mixed with the Syrians that lived there rising a tumult against them。 The Jews pretended that the city was theirs； and said that he who built it was a Jew； meaning king Herod。 The Syrians confessed also that its builder was a Jew； but they still said； however； that the city was a Grecian city； for that he who set up statues and temples in it could not design it for Jews。 On which account both parties had a contest with one another； and this contest increased so much； that it came at last to arms； and the bolder sort of them marched out to fight； for the elders of the Jews were not able to put a stop to their own people that were disposed to be tumultuous； and the Greeks thought it a shame for them to be overcome by the Jews。 Now these Jews exceeded the others in riches and strength of body； but the Grecian part had the advantage of assistance from the soldiery； for the greatest part of the Roman garrison was raised out of Syria； and being thus related to the Syrian part； they were ready to assist it。 However； the governors of the city were concerned to keep all quiet； and whenever they caught those that were most for fighting on either side； they punished them with stripes and bands。 Yet did not the sufferings of those that were caught affright the remainder； or make them desist； but they were still more and more exasperated； and deeper engaged in the sedition。 And as Felix came once into the market…place； and commanded the Jews； when they had beaten the Syrians； to go their ways； and threatened them if they would not； and they would not obey him； he sent his soldiers out upon them； and slew a great many of them； upon which it fell out that what they had was plundered。 And as the sedition still continued； he chose out the most eminent men on both sides as ambassadors to Nero； to argue about their several privileges。 CHAPTER 14。
Festus Succeeds Felix Who Is Succeeded By Albinus As He Is By Florus； Who By The Barbarity Of His Government Forces The Jews Into The War。
1。 Now it was that Festus succeeded Felix as procurator； and made it his business to correct those that made disturbances in the country。 So he caught the greatest part of the robbers； and destroyed a great many of them。 But then Albinus； who succeeded Festus； did not execute his office as the other had done； nor was there any sort of wickedness that could be named but he had a hand in it。 Accordingly； he did not only； in his political capacity； steal and plunder every one's substance； nor did he only burden the whole nation with taxes； but he permitted the relations of such as were in prison for robbery； and had been laid there； either by the senate of every city； or by the former procurators； to redeem them for money； and no body remained in the prisons as a malefactor but he who gave him nothing。 At this time it was that the enterprises of the seditious at Jerusalem were very formidable； the principal men among them purchasing leave of Albinus to go on with their seditious practices； while that part of the people who delighted in disturbances joined themselves to such as had fellowship with Albinus； and every one of these wicked wretches were encompassed with his own band of robbers； while he himself； like an arch…robber； or a tyrant； made a figure among his company； and abused his authority over those about him； in order to plunder those that lived quietly。 The effect of which was this； that those who lost their goods were forced to hold their peace； when they had reason to show great indignation at what they had suffered； but those who had escaped were forced to flatter him that deserved to be punished； out of the fear they were in of suffering equally with the others。 Upon the Whole； nobody durst speak their minds； but tyranny was generally tolerated； and at this time were those seeds sown which brought the city to destruction。
2。 And although such was the character of Albinus； yet did Gessius Florus （18） who succeeded him； demonstrate him to have been a most excellent person； upon the comparison； for the former did the greatest part of his rogueries in private； and with a sort of dissimulation； but Gessius did his unjust actions to the harm of the nation after a pompons manner； and as though he had been sent as an executioner to punish condemned malefactors； he omitted no sort of rapine； or of vexation； where the case was really pitiable； he was most barbarous； and in things of the greatest turpitude he was most impudent。 Nor could any one outdo him in disguising the truth； nor could any one contrive more subtle ways of deceit than he did。 He indeed thought it but a petty offense to get money out of single persons； so he spoiled whole cities； and ruined entire bodies of men at once； and did almost publicly proclaim it all the country over； that they had liberty given them to turn robbers； upon this condition； that he might go shares with them in the spoils they got。 Accordingly； this his greediness of gain was the occasion that entire toparchies were brought to desolation； and a great many of the people left their own country； and fled into foreign provinces。 3。 And truly； while Cestius Gallus was president of the province of Syria； nobody durst do so much as send an embassage to him against Florus； but when he was come to Jerusalem； upon the approach of the feast of unleavened bread； the people came about him not fewer in number than three millions （19） these besought him to commiserate the calamities of their nation； and cried out upon Florus as the bane of their country。 But as he was present； and stood by Cestius； he laughed at their words。 However； Cestius； when he had quieted the multitude； and had assured them that he would take care that Florus should hereafter treat them in a more gentle manner； returned to Antioch。 Florus also conducted him as far as Cesarea； and deluded him； though he had at that very time the purpose of showing his anger at the nation； and procuring a war upon them； by which means alone it was that he supposed he might conceal his enormities； for he expected that if the peace continued； he should have the Jews for his accusers before Caesar； but that if he could procure them to make a revolt； he should divert their laying lesser crimes to his charge； by a misery that was so much greater； he therefore did every day augment their calamities； in order to induce them to a rebellion。
4。 Now at this time it happened that the Grecians at Cesarea had been too hard for the Jews； and had obtained of Nero the government of the city； and had brought the judicial determination： at the same time began the war； in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero； and the seventeenth of the reign of Agrippa； in the month of Artemisins ＇Jyar。＇ Now the occasion of this war was by no means proportionable to those heavy calamities which it brought upon us。 For the Jews that dwelt at Cesarea had a synagogue near the place； whose owner was a certain Cesarean Greek： the Jews had endeavored frequently to have purchased the possession of the place； and had offered many times its value for its price； but as the owner overlooked their offers； so did he raise other buildings upon the place； in way of affront to them； and made working…shops of them； and left them but a narrow passage； and such as was very troublesome for them to go along to their synagogue。 Whereupon the warmer part of the Jewish youth went hastily to the workmen； and forbade them to build there； but as Florus would not permit them to use force； the great men of the Jews； with John the publican； being in the utmost