A new episode has been added to the occasional series upon Eusebius of Caesarea’s The
Ecclesiastical History: book 2, chapter 21 (listen here).
Notes and Commentary:
Eusebius continues his account of disturbances among the Jews
which occurred during the Roman governorship of Felix.
Here the focus is on an Egyptian false prophet, who is described
by Josephus. Eusebius says he appeared in the wilderness as a “sorcerer” and “secured
for himself the faith due to a prophet.”
He led 30,000 followers to the Mount of Olives where Felix and
the Roman garrison attacked and defeated them.
Eusebius also notes that Josephus’s account is matched by
that in Acts 21:38 where Luke records that the “chief captain” [KJC; Greek: chiliarchos; the same term is used here
by Eusebius, though Lake renders it as “centurion”] asks Paul if he is the
Egyptian prophet. Paul makes clear that he is not [see v. 39]. Luke calls his followers
“four thousand men of the Sicarii [tōn sikariōn]” (cf. KJV: “four thousand men that were murderers”).
Again, we see the tumultuous political and religious times of
Jesus and the apostles.
We also see Eusebius drawing on Josephus and showing its
harmony with Acts.
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