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Not long after this John the Baptist was beheaded by the younger
Herod, as is stated in the Gospels. Josephus also records the same
fact, making mention of Herodias by name, and stating that, although
she was the wife of his brother, Herod made her his own wife after
divorcing his former lawful wife, who was the daughter of Aretas,
king of Petra, and separating Herodias from her husband while he was
still alive.
It was on her account also that he slew John, and waged war with
Aretas, because of the disgrace inflicted on the daughter of the
latter. Josephus relates that in this war, when they came to battle,
Herod's entire army was destroyed, and that he suffered this calamity
on account of his crime against John.
The same Josephus confesses in this account that John the Baptist
was an exceedingly righteous man, and thus agrees with the things
written of him in the Gospels. He records also that Herod lost his
kingdom on account of the same Herodias, and that he was driven into
banishment with her, and condemned to live at Vienne in Gaul.
He relates these things in the eighteenth book of the Antiquities,
where he writes of John in the following words: "It seemed to some
of the Jews that the army of Herod was destroyed by God, who most
justly avenged John called the Baptist.
For Herod slew him, a good man and one who exhorted the Jews to come
and receive baptism, practicing virtue and exercising righteousness
toward each other and toward God; for baptism would appear acceptable
unto Him when they employed it, not for the remission of certain
sins, but for the purification of the body, as the soul had been
already purified in righteousness.
And when others gathered about him (for they found much pleasure in
listening to his words), Herod feared that his great influence might
lead to some sedition, for they appeared ready to do whatever he might
advise. He therefore considered it much better, before any new thing
should be done under John's influence, to anticipate it by slaying
him, than to repent after revolution had come, and when he found
himself in the midst of difficulties. On account of Herod's
suspicion John was sent in bonds to the above-mentioned citadel of
Mach'ra, and there slain."
After relating these things concerning John, he makes mention of our
Saviour in the same work, in the following words: "And there lived
at that time Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be proper to call him a
man. For he was a doer of wonderful works, and a teacher of such men
as receive the truth in gladness. And he attached to himself many of
the Jews, and many also of the Greeks. He was the Christ.
When Pilate, on the accusation of our principal men, condemned him
to the cross, those who had loved him in the beginning did not cease
loving him. For he appeared unto them again alive on the third day,
the divine prophets having told these and countless other wonderful
things concerning him. Moreover, the race of Christians, named
after him, continues down to the present day."
Since an historian, who is one of the Hebrews themselves, has
recorded in his work these things concerning John the Baptist and our
Saviour, what excuse is there left for not convicting them of being
destitute of all shame, who have forged the acts against them? But
let this suffice here.
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