Preface.

 Prolegomena.

 The Life of Eusebius.

 Chapter I

 §2.  Eusebius’ Birth and Training. His Life in Cæsarea until the Outbreak of the Persecution. 

 §3.  The Persecution of Diocletian. 

 §4.  Eusebius’ Accession to the Bishopric of Cæsarea. 

 §5.  The Outbreak of the Arian Controversy. The Attitude of Eusebius  .

 §6.  The Council of Nicæa  .

 §7.  Continuance of the Arian Controversy. Eusebius’ Relations to the Two Parties. 

 §8.  Eusebius and Marcellus  .

 §9.  The Death of Eusebius. 

 The Writings of Eusebius.

 Chapter II

 §2.  Catalogue of his Works  .

 Eusebius' Church History.

 Chapter III

 §2.  The Author’s Design  .

 §3.  Eusebius as a Historian. The Merits and Defects of his History  .

 §4.  Editions and Versions  .

 §5.  Literature  .

  Testimonies of the Ancients in Favor of Eusebius. 

 Testimonies of the Ancients Against Eusebius.

 Book I

 The Church History of Eusebius.

 Chapter II.—  Summary View of the Pre-existence and Divinity of Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Chapter III.—  The Name Jesus and also the Name Christ were known from the Beginning, and were honored by the Inspired Prophets. 

 Chapter IV.—  The Religion Proclaimed by Him to All Nations Was Neither New Nor Strange. 

 Chapter V.—  The Time of his Appearance among Men. 

 Chapter VI.—  About the Time of Christ, in accordance with Prophecy, the Rulers who had governed the Jewish Nation in Regular Succession from the Days

 Chapter VII.—  The Alleged Discrepancy in the Gospels in regard to the Genealogy of Christ. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Cruelty of Herod toward the Infants, and the Manner of his Death. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Times of Pilate. 

 Chapter X.—  The High Priests of the Jews under whom Christ taught. 

 Chapter XI.—  Testimonies in Regard to John the Baptist and Christ. 

 Chapter XII.—  The Disciples of our Saviour. 

 Chapter XIII.—  Narrative concerning the Prince of the Edessenes. 

 Book II

 Book II.

 Chapter I.—  The Course pursued by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ. 

 Chapter II.—  How Tiberius was affected when informed by Pilate concerning Christ. 

 Chapter III.—  The Doctrine of Christ soon spread throughout All the World. 

 Chapter IV.—  After the Death of Tiberius, Caius appointed Agrippa King of the Jews, having punished Herod with Perpetual Exile. 

 Chapter V.—  Philo’s Embassy to Caius in Behalf of the Jews. 

 Chapter VI.—  The Misfortunes which overwhelmed the Jews after their Presumption against Christ. 

 Chapter VII.—  Pilate’s Suicide. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Famine which took Place in the Reign of Claudius. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Martyrdom of James the Apostle. 

 Chapter X.—  Agrippa, who was also called Herod, having persecuted the Apostles, immediately experienced the Divine Vengeance. 

 Chapter XI.—  The Impostor Theudas and his Followers. 

 Chapter XII.—  Helen, the Queen of the Osrhœnians. 

 Chapter XIII.—  Simon Magus. 

 Chapter XIV.—  The Preaching of the Apostle Peter in Rome. 

 Chapter XV.—  The Gospel according to Mark. 

 Chapter XVI.—  Mark first proclaimed Christianity to the Inhabitants of Egypt. 

 Chapter XVII.—  Philo’s Account of the Ascetics of Egypt. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  The Works of Philo   that have come down to us. 

 Chapter XIX.—  The Calamity which befell the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of the Passover. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the Reign of Nero. 

 Chapter XXI.—  The Egyptian, who is mentioned also in the Acts of the Apostles. 

 Chapter XXII.—  Paul having been sent bound from Judea to Rome, made his Defense, and was acquitted of every Charge. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  Annianus the First Bishop of the Church of Alexandria after Mark. 

 Chapter XXV.—  The Persecution under Nero in which Paul and Peter were honored at Rome with Martyrdom in Behalf of Religion. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  The Jews, afflicted with Innumerable Evils, commenced the Last War Against the Romans. 

 Book III

 Book III.

 Chapter II.—  The First Ruler of the Church of Rome. 

 Chapter III.—  The Epistles of the Apostles. 

 Chapter IV.—  The First Successors of the Apostles. 

 Chapter V.—  The Last Siege of the Jews after Christ. 

 Chapter VI.—  The Famine which oppressed them. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Predictions of Christ. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Signs which preceded the War. 

 Chapter IX.—  Josephus and the Works which he has left. 

 Chapter X.—  The Manner in which Josephus mentions the Divine Books. 

 Chapter XI.—  Symeon rules the Church of Jerusalem after James. 

 Chapter XII.—  Vespasian commands the Descendants of David to be sought. 

 Chapter XIII.—  Anencletus, the Second Bishop of Rome. 

 Chapter XIV.—  Abilius, the Second Bishop of Alexandria. 

 Chapter XV.—  Clement, the Third Bishop of Rome. 

 Chapter XVI.—  The Epistle of Clement. 

 Chapter XVII.—  The Persecution under Domitian. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  The Apostle John and the Apocalypse. 

 Chapter XIX.—  Domitian commands the Descendants of David to be slain. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Relatives of our Saviour. 

 Chapter XXI.—  Cerdon becomes the Third Ruler of the Church of Alexandria. 

 Chapter XXII.—  Ignatius, the Second Bishop of Antioch. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  Narrative Concerning John the Apostle. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  The Order of the Gospels. 

 Chapter XXV.—  The Divine Scriptures that are accepted and those that are not. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  Menander the Sorcerer. 

 Chapter XXVII.—  The Heresy of the Ebionites. 

 Chapter XXVIII.—  Cerinthus the Heresiarch. 

 Chapter XXIX.—  Nicolaus and the Sect named after him. 

 Chapter XXX.—  The Apostles that were Married. 

 Chapter XXXI.—  The Death of John and Philip. 

 Chapter XXXII.—  Symeon, Bishop of Jerusalem, suffers Martyrdom. 

 Chapter XXXIII.—  Trajan forbids the Christians to be sought after. 

 Chapter XXXIV.—  Evarestus, the Fourth Bishop of the Church of Rome. 

 Chapter XXXV.—  Justus, the Third Bishop of Jerusalem. 

 Chapter XXXVI.—  Ignatius and His Epistles. 

 Chapter XXXVII.—  The Evangelists that were still Eminent at that Time. 

 Chapter XXXVIII.—  The Epistle of Clement and the Writings falsely ascribed to him. 

 Chapter XXXIX.—  The Writings of Papias. 

 Book IV

 Book IV.

 Chapter II.—  The Calamities of the Jews during Trajan’s Reign. 

 Chapter III.—  The Apologists that wrote in Defense of the Faith during the Reign of Adrian. 

 Chapter IV.—  The Bishops of Rome and of Alexandria under the Same Emperor  .

 Chapter V.—  The Bishops of Jerusalem from the Age of our Saviour to the Period under Consideration 

 Chapter VI.—  The Last Siege of the Jews under Adrian  .

 Chapter VII.—  The Persons that became at that Time Leaders of Knowledge falsely so-called  .

 Chapter VIII.—  Ecclesiastical Writers  .

 Chapter IX.—  The Epistle of Adrian, decreeing that we should not be punished without a Trial  .

 Chapter X.—  The Bishops of Rome and of Alexandria during the Reign of Antoninus  .

 Chapter XI.—  The Heresiarchs of that Age  .

 Chapter XII.—  The Apology of Justin addressed to Antoninus. 

 ChapterXIII.—  The Epistle of Antoninus to the Common Assembly of Asia in Regard to our Doctrine  .

 Chapter XIV.—  The Circumstances related of Polycarp, a Friend of the Apostles  .

 Chapter XV.—  Under Verus,   Polycarp with Others suffered Martyrdom at Smyrna 

 Chapter XVI.—  Justin the Philosopher preaches the Word of Christ in Rome and suffers Martyrdom. 

 Chapter XVII.—  The Martyrs whom Justin mentions in his Own Work. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  The Works of Justin which have come down to us. 

 Chapter XIX.—  The Rulers of the Churches of Rome and Alexandria during the Reign of Verus. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Rulers of the Church of Antioch. 

 Chapter XXI.—  The Ecclesiastical Writers that flourished in Those Days. 

 Chapter XXII.—  Hegesippus and the Events which he mentions. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, and the Epistles which he wrote. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  Theophilus Bishop of Antioch. 

 Chapter XXV.—  Philip and Modestus. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  Melito and the Circumstances which he records. 

 Chapter XXVII.—  Apolinarius, Bishop of the Church of Hierapolis. 

 Chapter XXVIII.—  Musanus and His Writings. 

 Chapter XXIX.—  The Heresy of Tatian. 

 Chapter XXX.—  Bardesanes the Syrian and his Extant Works. 

 Book V

 Book V.

 Chapter I.—  The Number of those who fought for Religion in Gaul Under Verus and the Nature of their Conflicts. 

 Chapter II.—  The Martyrs, beloved of God, kindly ministered unto those who fell in the Persecution. 

 Chapter III.—  The Vision which appeared in a Dream to the Witness Attalus. 

 Chapter IV.—  Irenæus commended by the Witnesses in a Letter. 

 Chapter V.—  God sent Rain from Heaven for Marcus Aurelius Cæsar in Answer to the Prayers of our People. 

 Chapter VI.—  Catalogue of the Bishops of Rome. 

 Chapter VII.—  Even down to those Times Miracles were performed by the Faithful. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Statements of Irenæus in regard to the Divine Scriptures. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Bishops under Commodus. 

 Chapter X.—  Pantænus the Philosopher. 

 Chapter XI.—  Clement of Alexandria. 

 Chapter XII.—  The Bishops in Jerusalem. 

 Chapter XIII.—  Rhodo and his Account of the Dissension of Marcion. 

 Chapter XIV.—  The False Prophets of the Phrygians. 

 Chapter XV.—  The Schism of Blastus at Rome. 

 Chapter XVI.—  The Circumstances related of Montanus and his False Prophets. 

 Chapter XVII.—  Miltiades and His Works. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  The Manner in which Apollonius refuted the Phrygians, and the Persons   whom he Mentions. 

 Chapter XIX.—  Serapion on the Heresy of the Phrygians. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Writings of Irenæus against the Schismatics at Rome. 

 Chapter XXI.—  How Appolonius suffered Martyrdom at Rome. 

 Chapter XXII.—  The Bishops that were well known at this Time. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  The Question then agitated concerning the Passover. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  The Disagreement in Asia. 

 Chapter XXV.—  How All came to an Agreement respecting the Passover. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  The Elegant Works of Irenæus which have come down to us. 

 Chapter XXVII.—  The Works of Others that flourished at that Time. 

 Chapter XXVIII.—  Those who first advanced the Heresy of Artemon their Manner of Life, and how they dared to corrupt the Sacred Scriptures. 

 Book VI

 Book VI.

 Chapter II.—  The Training of Origen from Childhood. 

 Chapter III.—  While still very Young, he taught diligently the Word of Christ. 

 Chapter IV.—  The pupils of Origen that became Martyrs. 

 Chapter V.—  Potamiæna. 

 Chapter VI.—  Clement of Alexandria. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Writer, Judas. 

 Chapter VIII.—  Origen’s Daring Deed. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Miracles of Narcissus. 

 Chapter X.—  The Bishops of Jerusalem. 

 Chapter XI.—  Alexander. 

 Chapter XII.—  Serapion and his Extant Works. 

 Chapter XIII.—  The Writings of Clement. 

 Chapter XIV.—  The Scriptures mentioned by Him. 

 Chapter XV.—  Heraclas. 

 Chapter XVI.—  Origen’s Earnest Study of the Divine Scriptures. 

 Chapter XVII.—  The Translator Symmachus. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  Ambrose. 

 Chapter XIX.—  Circumstances Related of Origen. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Extant Works of the Writers of that Age. 

 Chapter XXI.—  The Bishops that were well known at that Time. 

 Chapter XXII.—  The Works of Hippolytus which have reached us. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  Origen’s Zeal and his Elevation to the Presbyterate. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  The Commentaries which he prepared at Alexandria. 

 Chapter XXV.—  His Review of the Canonical Scriptures. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  Heraclas becomes Bishop of Alexandria. 

 Chapter XXVII.—  How the Bishops regarded Origen. 

 Chapter XXVIII.—  The Persecution under Maximinus. 

 Chapter XXIX.—  Fabianus, who was wonderfully designated Bishop of Rome by God. 

 Chapter XXX.—  The Pupils of Origen. 

 Chapter XXXI.—  Africanus. 

 Chapter XXXII.—  The Commentaries which Origen composed in Cæsarea in Palestine. 

 Chapter XXXIII.—  The Error of Beryllus. 

 Chapter XXXIV.—  Philip Cæsar. 

 Chapter XXXV.—  Dionysius succeeds Heraclas in the Episcopate. 

 Chapter XXXVI.—  Other Works of Origen. 

 Chapter XXXVII.—  The Dissension of the Arabians. 

 Chapter XXXVIII.—  The Heresy of the Elkesites. 

 Chapter XXXIX.—  The Persecution under Decius, and the Sufferings of Origen. 

 Chapter XL.—  The Events which happened to Dionysius. 

 Chapter XLI.—  The Martyrs in Alexandria. 

 Chapter XLII.—  Others of whom Dionysius gives an Account. 

 Chapter XLIII.—  Novatus,   his Manner of Life and his Heresy. 

 Chapter XLIV.—  Dionysius’ Account of Serapion. 

 Chapter XLV.—  An Epistle of Dionysius to Novatus. 

 Chapter XLVI.—  Other Epistles of Dionysius. 

 Book VII

 Book VII.

 Chapter I.—  The Wickedness of Decius and Gallus. 

 Chapter II.—  The Bishops of Rome in those Times. 

 Chapter III.—  Cyprian, and the Bishops with him, first taught that it was necessary to purify by Baptism those converted from Heresy. 

 Chapter IV.—  The Epistles which Dionysius wrote on this Subject. 

 Chapter V.—  The Peace following the Persecution. 

 Chapter VI.—  The Heresy of Sabellius. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Abominable Error of the Heretics the Divine Vision of Dionysius and the Ecclesiastical Canon which he received. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Heterodoxy of Novatus. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Ungodly Baptism of the Heretics. 

 Chapter X.—  Valerian and the Persecution under him. 

 Chapter XI.—  The Events which happened at this Time to Dionysius and those in Egypt. 

 Chapter XII.—  The Martyrs in Cæsarea in Palestine. 

 Chapter XIII.—  The Peace under Gallienus. 

 Chapter XIV.—  The Bishops that flourished at that Time. 

 Chapter XV.—  The Martyrdom of Marinus at Cæsarea. 

 Chapter XVI.—  Story in Regard to Astyrius. 

 Chapter XVII.—  The Signs at Paneas of the Great Might of our Saviour. 

 Chapter XVIII.—  The Statue which the Woman with an Issue of Blood erected. 

 Chapter XIX.—  The Episcopal Chair of James. 

 Chapter XX.—  The Festal Epistles of Dionysius, in which he also gives a Paschal Canon. 

 Chapter XXI.—  The Occurrences at Alexandria. 

 Chapter XXII.—  The Pestilence which came upon them. 

 Chapter XXIII.—  The Reign of Gallienus. 

 Chapter XXIV.—  Nepos and his Schism. 

 Chapter XXV.—  The Apocalypse of John. 

 Chapter XXVI.—  The Epistles of Dionysius. 

 Chapter XXVII.—  Paul of Samosata, and the Heresy introduced by him at Antioch. 

 Chapter XXVIII.—  The Illustrious Bishops of that Time. 

 Chapter XXIX.—  Paul, having been refuted by Malchion, a Presbyter from the Sophists, was excommunicated. 

 Chapter XXX.—  The Epistle of the Bishops against Paul. 

 Chapter XXXI.—  The Perversive Heresy of the Manicheans which began at this Time. 

 Chapter XXXII.—  The Distinguished Ecclesiastics   of our Day, and which of them survived until the Destruction of the Churches. 

 Book VIII

 Book VIII.

 Chapter I.—  The Events which preceded the Persecution in our Times. 

 Chapter II.—  The Destruction of the Churches. 

 Chapter III.—  The Nature of the Conflicts endured in the Persecution. 

 Chapter IV.—  The Famous Martyrs of God, who filled Every Place with their Memory and won Various Crowns in behalf of Religion. 

 Chapter V.—  Those in Nicomedia. 

 Chapter VI.—  Those in the Palace. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Egyptians in Phœnicia. 

 Chapter VIII.—  Those in Egypt  .

 Chapter IX.—  Those in Thebais. 

 Chapter X.—  The Writings of Phileas the Martyr describing the Occurrences at Alexandria. 

 Chapter XI.—  Those in Phrygia. 

 Chapter XII.—  Many Others, both Men and Women, who suffered in Various Ways. 

 Chapter XIII.—  The Bishops of the Church that evinced by their Blood the Genuineness of the Religion which they preached. 

 Chapter XIV.—  The Character of the Enemies of Religion. 

 Chapter XV.—  The Events which happened to the Heathen. 

 Chapter XVI.—  The Change of Affairs for the Better. 

 Chapter XVII.—  The Revocation of the Rulers. 

 Martyrs of Palestine.

 Martyrs of Palestine.

 Chapter I.

 Chapter II.

 Chapter III.

 Chapter IV.

 Chapter V.

 Chapter VI.

 Chapter VII.

 Chapter VIII.

 Chapter IX.

 Chapter X.

 Chapter XI.

 Chapter XII.

 Chapter XIII.

 Book IX

 Book IX.

 Chapter II.—  The Subsequent Reverse. 

 Chapter III.—  The Newly Erected Statue at Antioch. 

 Chapter IV.—  The Memorials against us. 

 Chapter V.—  The Forged Acts. 

 Chapter VI.—  Those who suffered Martyrdom at this Time. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Decree against us which was engraved on Pillars. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Misfortunes which happened in Connection with these Things, in Famine, Pestilence, and War. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Victory of the God-Beloved Emperors. 

 Chapter X.—  The Overthrow of the Tyrants and the Words which they uttered before their Death. 

 Chapter XI.—  The Final Destruction of the Enemies of Religion. 

 Book X

 Book X.

 Chapter II.—  The Restoration of the Churches. 

 Chapter III.—  The Dedications in Every Place. 

 Chapter IV.—  Panegyric on the Splendor of Affairs. 

 Chapter V.—  Copies of Imperial Laws. 

  Chapter VI.   —   Copy of an Imperial Epistle in which Money is granted to the Churches. 

 Chapter VII.—  The Exemption of the Clergy. 

 Chapter VIII.—  The Subsequent Wickedness of Licinius, and his Death. 

 Chapter IX.—  The Victory of Constantine, and the Blessings which under him accrued to the Subjects of the Roman Empire. 

 Supplementary Notes and Tables.

 On Bk. III. chap. 3, § 5 (note 17, continued).

 On Bk. III. chap. 3, § 6 (note 22, continued).

 On Bk. III. chap. 24, § 17 (note 18 continued).

 On Bk. III. chap. 25, § 4 (note 18 continued).

 On Bk. III. chap. 28, § 1.

 On Bk. III. chap. 32, § 6 (note 14  a  ).

 On Bk. III. chap. 36 § 13.

 On Bk. III. chap. 39, § 1 (note 1, continued).

 On Bk. III. chap. 39, § 6.

 On Bk. III. chap. 39, § 16.

 On Bk. IV. chap. 10.

 On Bk. IV. chap. 18, § 2.

 On Bk. V. Introd. § I (note 3, continued).  The Successors of Antoninus Pius  .

 On Bk. V. chap. 1, § 27 (note 26, continued).

 On Bk. VI. chap. 2 (note 1, continued).  Origen’s Life and Writings  .

 On Bk. VI. chap. 8, § 5 (note 4).  Origen and Demetrius  .

 On Bk. VI. chap. 12, § 6.

 On Bk. VI. chap. 23, § 4 (note 6).  Origen’s Visit to Achaia  .

 On Bk. VII. chap. 25, § 11.

 On Bk. VII. chap. 26, § 1 (note 4, continued).

 On Bk. VIII. chap. 2, § 4 (note 3, continued).  The Causes of the Diocletian Persecution  .

 On Bk. X. chap. 8, § 4 (note I, a).

 Table of Roman Emperors.

 The Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, mentioned by Eusebius.

  Bishops of Alexandria. 

  Bishops of Antioch. 

  Bishops of Jerusalem. 

 Table showing the Roman Method of counting the Days of the Month.

 Table of Macedonian Months

Chapter VI.—  About the Time of Christ, in accordance with Prophecy, the Rulers who had governed the Jewish Nation in Regular Succession from the Days of Antiquity came to an End, and Herod, the First Foreigner, Became King. 

1. When Herod,  74  Herod the Great, son of Antipater, an Idumean, who had been appointed procurator of Judea by Cæsar in b.c. 47. Herod was made governor of Galilee at the same time, and king of Judea by the Roman Senate in b.c. 40. the first ruler of foreign blood, became King, the prophecy of Moses received its fulfillment, according to which there should “not be wanting a prince of Judah, nor a ruler from his loins, until he come for whom it is reserved.”  75  Gen. xlix. 10. The LXX., which Eusebius quotes here, according to his custom, is in the present instance somewhat different from the Hebrew. The latter, he also shows, was to be the expectation of the nations.  76  Ibid.

2. This prediction remained unfulfilled so long as it was permitted them to live under rulers from their own nation, that is, from the time of Moses to the reign of Augustus. Under the latter, Herod, the first foreigner, was given the Kingdom of the Jews by the Romans. As Josephus relates,  77  Eusebius refers here to Ant. XIV. 1. 3 and 7. 3. According to Josephus, Herod’s father was Antipater, and his mother Cypros, an Arabian woman of noble birth. he was an Idumean  78  The Idumeans or Edomites were the descendants of Esau, and inhabited the Sinaitic peninsula south of the Dead Sea. Their principal city and stronghold was the famous rock city, Petra. They were constant enemies of the Jews, refused them free passage through their land (Num. xx. 20); were conquered by Saul and David, but again regained their independence, until they were finally completely subjugated by John Hyrcanus, who left them in possession of their land, but compelled them to undergo circumcision, and adopt the Jewish law. Compare Josephus, Ant. XIII. 9. 1; XV. 7. 9; B. J. IV. 5. 5. on his father’s side and an Arabian on his mother’s. But Africanus,  79  On Africanus, see Bk. VI. chap. 31. This account is given by Africanus in his epistle to Aristides, quoted by Eusebius in the next chapter. Africanus states there (§11) that the account, as he gives it, was handed down by the relatives of the Lord. But the tradition, whether much older than Africanus or not, is certainly incorrect. We learn from Josephus (Ant. XIV. 2), who is the best witness upon this subject, that Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, was the son of another Antipater, or Antipas, an Idumean who had been made governor of Idumea by the Jewish king Alexander Jannæus (of the Maccabæan family). In Ant. XVI. 11 Josephus informs us that a report had been invented by friends and flatterers of Herod that he was descended from Jewish ancestors. The report originated with Nicolai Damasceni, a writer of the time of the Herods. The tradition preserved here by Africanus had its origin, evidently, in a desire to degrade Herod by representing him as descended from a slave. who was also no common writer, says that they who were more accurately informed about him report that he was a son of Antipater, and that the latter was the son of a certain Herod of Ascalon,  80  Ascalon, one of the five cities of the Philistines (mentioned frequently in the Old Testament), lay upon the Mediterranean Sea, between Gaza and Joppa. It was beautified by Herod (although not belonging to his dominions), and after his death became the residence of his sister Salome. It was a prominent place in the Middle Ages, but is now in ruins. Of this Herod of Ascalon nothing is known. Possibly no such man existed. one of the so-called servants  81  ἱερόδουλος, “a temple-slave.” of the temple of Apollo.

3. This Antipater, having been taken a prisoner while a boy by Idumean robbers, lived with them, because his father, being a poor man, was unable to pay a ransom for him. Growing up in their practices he was afterward befriended by Hyrcanus,  82  Hyrcanus II., eldest son of the King Alexander Jannæus of the Maccabæan family, became high priest upon the death of his father, in 78 b.c.; and upon the death of his mother, in 69 b.c., ascended the throne. He gave up his kingdom afterward (66 b.c.) to his younger brother, Aristobulus; but under the influence of Antipater the Idumean endeavored to regain it, and after a long war with his brother, was re-established in power by Pompey, in 63 b.c., but merely as high priest and governor, not with the title of king. He retained his position until 40 b.c., when he was driven out by his nephew Antigonus. He was murdered in 30 b.c., by command of Herod the Great, who had married his grand-daughter Mariamne. He was throughout a weak man, and while in power was completely under the influence of his minister, Antipater. the high priest of the Jews. A son of his was that Herod who lived in the times of our Saviour.  83  Herod the Great.

4. When the Kingdom of the Jews had devolved upon such a man the expectation of the nations was, according to prophecy, already at the door. For with him their princes and governors, who had ruled in regular succession from the time of Moses came to an end.

5. Before their captivity and their transportation to Babylon they were ruled by Saul first and then by David, and before the kings leaders governed them who were called Judges, and who came after Moses and his successor Jesus.

6. After their return from Babylon they continued to have without interruption an aristocratic form of government, with an oligarchy. For the priests had the direction of affairs until Pompey, the Roman general, took Jerusalem by force, and defiled the holy places by entering the very innermost sanctuary of the temple.  84  In 63 b.c., when Pompey’s curiosity led him to penetrate into the Holy of Holies. He was much impressed, however, by its simplicity, and went away without disturbing its treasures, wondering at a religion which had no visible God. Aristobulus,  85  Aristobulus II., younger brother of Hyrcanus, a much abler and more energetic man, assumed the kingdom by an arrangement with his brother in 66 b.c. (see note 9, above). In 63 b.c. he was deposed, and carried to Rome by Pompey. He died about 48 b.c. Eusebius is hardly correct in saying that Aristobulus was king and high priest by regular succession, as his elder brother Hyrcanus was the true heir, and he had assumed the power only because of his superior ability. who, by the right of ancient succession, had been up to that time both king and high priest, he sent with his children in chains to Rome; and gave to Hyrcanus, brother of Aristobulus, the high priesthood, while the whole nation of the Jews was made tributary to the Romans from that time.  86  The real independence of the Jews practically ceased at this time. For three years only, from 40 to 37 b.c., while Antigonus, son of Aristobulus and nephew of Hyrcanus, was in power, Jerusalem was independent of Rome, but was soon retaken by Herod the Great and remained from that time on in more or less complete subjection, either as a dependent kingdom or as a province.

7. But Hyrcanus, who was the last of the regular line of high priests, was very soon afterward taken prisoner by the Parthians,  87  40 b.c., when Antigonus, by the aid of the Parthians took Jerusalem and established himself as king there, until conquered by Herod in 37 b.c. Hyrcanus returned to Jerusalem in 36 b.c., but was no longer high priest. and Herod, the first foreigner, as I have already said, was made King of the Jewish nation by the Roman senate and by Augustus.

8. Under him Christ appeared in bodily shape, and the expected Salvation of the nations and their calling followed in accordance with prophecy.  88  Compare Isa. ix. 2; xlii. 6; xlix. 6, etc. From this time the princes and rulers of Judah, I mean of the Jewish nation, came to an end, and as a natural consequence the order of the high priesthood, which from ancient times had proceeded regularly in closest succession from generation to generation, was immediately thrown into confusion.  89  Eusebius’ statement is perfectly correct. The high priestly lineage had been kept with great scrupulousness until Hyrcanus II., the last of the regular succession. (His grandson Aristobulus, however, was high priest for a year under Herod, but was then slain by him.) Afterward the high priest was appointed and changed at pleasure by the secular ruler. Herod the Great first established the practice of removing a high priest during his lifetime; and under him there were no less than six different ones.

9. Of these things Josephus is also a witness,  90  Josephus, Ant. XX. 8. who shows that when Herod was made King by the Romans he no longer appointed the high priests from the ancient line, but gave the honor to certain obscure persons. A course similar to that of Herod in the appointment of the priests was pursued by his son Archelaus,  91  Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan woman, and younger brother of Herod Antipas. Upon the death of his father, b.c. 4, he succeeded to the government of Idumea, Samaria, and Judea, with the title of Ethnarch. and after him by the Romans, who took the government into their own hands.  92  After the death of Archelaus (a.d. 7), Judea was made a Roman province, and ruled by procurators until Herod Agrippa I. came into power in 37 a.d. (see below, Bk. II. chap. 4, note 3). The changes in the high priesthood during the most of this time were very rapid, one after another being appointed and removed according to the fancy of the procurator, or of the governor of Syria, who held the power of appointment most of the time. There were no fewer than nineteen high priests between the death of Archelaus and the fall of Jerusalem.

10. The same writer shows  93  Josephus, Ant. XV. 11. 4. that Herod was the first that locked up the sacred garment of the high priest under his own seal and refused to permit the high priests to keep it for themselves. The same course was followed by Archelaus after him, and after Archelaus by the Romans.

11. These things have been recorded by us in order to show that another prophecy has been fulfilled in the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ. For the Scripture, in the book of Daniel,  94  Dan. ix. 26. having expressly mentioned a certain number of weeks until the coming of Christ, of which we have treated in other books,  95  It is commonly assumed that Eusebius refers here to the Dem. Evang. VIII. 2 sq., where the prophecies of Daniel are discussed at length. But, as Lightfoot remarks, the reference is just as well satisfied by the Eclogæ Proph. III. 45. We cannot, in fact, decide which work is meant. most clearly prophesies, that after the completion of those weeks the unction among the Jews should totally perish. And this, it has been clearly shown, was fulfilled at the time of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. This has been necessarily premised by us as a proof of the correctness of the time.

74 Herod the Great, son of Antipater, an Idumean, who had been appointed procurator of Judea by Cæsar in b.c. 47. Herod was made governor of Galilee at the same time, and king of Judea by the Roman Senate in b.c. 40.
75 Gen. xlix. 10. The LXX., which Eusebius quotes here, according to his custom, is in the present instance somewhat different from the Hebrew.
76 Ibid.
77 Eusebius refers here to Ant. XIV. 1. 3 and 7. 3. According to Josephus, Herod’s father was Antipater, and his mother Cypros, an Arabian woman of noble birth.
78 The Idumeans or Edomites were the descendants of Esau, and inhabited the Sinaitic peninsula south of the Dead Sea. Their principal city and stronghold was the famous rock city, Petra. They were constant enemies of the Jews, refused them free passage through their land (Num. xx. 20); were conquered by Saul and David, but again regained their independence, until they were finally completely subjugated by John Hyrcanus, who left them in possession of their land, but compelled them to undergo circumcision, and adopt the Jewish law. Compare Josephus, Ant. XIII. 9. 1; XV. 7. 9; B. J. IV. 5. 5.
79 On Africanus, see Bk. VI. chap. 31. This account is given by Africanus in his epistle to Aristides, quoted by Eusebius in the next chapter. Africanus states there (§11) that the account, as he gives it, was handed down by the relatives of the Lord. But the tradition, whether much older than Africanus or not, is certainly incorrect. We learn from Josephus (Ant. XIV. 2), who is the best witness upon this subject, that Antipater, the father of Herod the Great, was the son of another Antipater, or Antipas, an Idumean who had been made governor of Idumea by the Jewish king Alexander Jannæus (of the Maccabæan family). In Ant. XVI. 11 Josephus informs us that a report had been invented by friends and flatterers of Herod that he was descended from Jewish ancestors. The report originated with Nicolai Damasceni, a writer of the time of the Herods. The tradition preserved here by Africanus had its origin, evidently, in a desire to degrade Herod by representing him as descended from a slave.
80 Ascalon, one of the five cities of the Philistines (mentioned frequently in the Old Testament), lay upon the Mediterranean Sea, between Gaza and Joppa. It was beautified by Herod (although not belonging to his dominions), and after his death became the residence of his sister Salome. It was a prominent place in the Middle Ages, but is now in ruins. Of this Herod of Ascalon nothing is known. Possibly no such man existed.
81 ἱερόδουλος, “a temple-slave.”
82 Hyrcanus II., eldest son of the King Alexander Jannæus of the Maccabæan family, became high priest upon the death of his father, in 78 b.c.; and upon the death of his mother, in 69 b.c., ascended the throne. He gave up his kingdom afterward (66 b.c.) to his younger brother, Aristobulus; but under the influence of Antipater the Idumean endeavored to regain it, and after a long war with his brother, was re-established in power by Pompey, in 63 b.c., but merely as high priest and governor, not with the title of king. He retained his position until 40 b.c., when he was driven out by his nephew Antigonus. He was murdered in 30 b.c., by command of Herod the Great, who had married his grand-daughter Mariamne. He was throughout a weak man, and while in power was completely under the influence of his minister, Antipater.
83 Herod the Great.
84 In 63 b.c., when Pompey’s curiosity led him to penetrate into the Holy of Holies. He was much impressed, however, by its simplicity, and went away without disturbing its treasures, wondering at a religion which had no visible God.
85 Aristobulus II., younger brother of Hyrcanus, a much abler and more energetic man, assumed the kingdom by an arrangement with his brother in 66 b.c. (see note 9, above). In 63 b.c. he was deposed, and carried to Rome by Pompey. He died about 48 b.c. Eusebius is hardly correct in saying that Aristobulus was king and high priest by regular succession, as his elder brother Hyrcanus was the true heir, and he had assumed the power only because of his superior ability.
86 The real independence of the Jews practically ceased at this time. For three years only, from 40 to 37 b.c., while Antigonus, son of Aristobulus and nephew of Hyrcanus, was in power, Jerusalem was independent of Rome, but was soon retaken by Herod the Great and remained from that time on in more or less complete subjection, either as a dependent kingdom or as a province.
87 40 b.c., when Antigonus, by the aid of the Parthians took Jerusalem and established himself as king there, until conquered by Herod in 37 b.c. Hyrcanus returned to Jerusalem in 36 b.c., but was no longer high priest.
88 Compare Isa. ix. 2; xlii. 6; xlix. 6, etc.
89 Eusebius’ statement is perfectly correct. The high priestly lineage had been kept with great scrupulousness until Hyrcanus II., the last of the regular succession. (His grandson Aristobulus, however, was high priest for a year under Herod, but was then slain by him.) Afterward the high priest was appointed and changed at pleasure by the secular ruler. Herod the Great first established the practice of removing a high priest during his lifetime; and under him there were no less than six different ones.
90 Josephus, Ant. XX. 8.
91 Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan woman, and younger brother of Herod Antipas. Upon the death of his father, b.c. 4, he succeeded to the government of Idumea, Samaria, and Judea, with the title of Ethnarch.
92 After the death of Archelaus (a.d. 7), Judea was made a Roman province, and ruled by procurators until Herod Agrippa I. came into power in 37 a.d. (see below, Bk. II. chap. 4, note 3). The changes in the high priesthood during the most of this time were very rapid, one after another being appointed and removed according to the fancy of the procurator, or of the governor of Syria, who held the power of appointment most of the time. There were no fewer than nineteen high priests between the death of Archelaus and the fall of Jerusalem.
93 Josephus, Ant. XV. 11. 4.
94 Dan. ix. 26.
95 It is commonly assumed that Eusebius refers here to the Dem. Evang. VIII. 2 sq., where the prophecies of Daniel are discussed at length. But, as Lightfoot remarks, the reference is just as well satisfied by the Eclogæ Proph. III. 45. We cannot, in fact, decide which work is meant.