llius_, newly made President of _Syria_, deprived him
of his honour, substituting _Marcellus_, and at length sent him to _Rome_:
but, by reason of delays, _Tiberius_ died before _Pilate_ got thither. In
the mean time _Vitellius_, after he had deposed _Pilate_, came to
_Jerusalem_ in the time of the Passover, to visit that Province as well as
others in the beginning of his office; and in the place of _Caiaphas_, then
High Priest, created _Jonathas_ the son of _Ananus_, or _Annas_ as he is
called in scripture. Afterwards, when _Vitellius_ was returned to
_Antioch_, he received letters from _Tiberius_, to make peace with
_Artabanus_ king of the _Parthians_. At the same time the _Alans_, by the
sollicitation of _Tiberius_, invaded the kingdom of _Artabanus_; and his
subjects also, by the procurement of _Vitellius_, soon after rebelled: for
_Tiberius_ thought that _Artabanus_, thus pressed with difficulties, would
more readily accept the conditions of peace. _Artabanus_ therefore
straightway gathering a greater army, opprest the rebels; and then meeting
_Vitellius_ at _Euphrates_, made a league with the _Romans_. After this
_Tiberius_ commanded _Vitellius_ to make war upon _Aretas_ King of
_Arabia_. He therefore leading his army against _Aretas_, went together
with _Herod_ to _Jerusalem_, to sacrifice at the publick feast which was
then to be celebrated. Where being received honourably, he stayed three
days, and in the mean while translated the high Priesthood from _Jonathas_
to his brother _Theophilus_: and the fourth day, receiving letters of the
death of _Tiberius_, made the people swear allegiance to _Caius_ the new
Emperor; and recalling his army, sent them into quarters. All this is
related by _Josephus_ _Antiq._ _lib._ 18. _c._ 6, 7. Now _Tiberius_ reigned
22 years and 7 months, and died _March_ 16, in the beginning of the year of
_Christ_ 37; and the feast of the Passover fell on _April_ 20 following,
that is, 35 days after the death of _Tiberius_: so that there were about 36
or 38 days, for the news of his death to come from _Rome_ to _Vitellius_ at
_Jerusalem_; which being a convenient time for that message, confirms that
the feast which _Vitellius_ and _Herod_ now went up to was the Passover.
For had it been the Pentecost, as is usually supposed, _Vitellius_ would
have continued three months ignorant of the Emperor's death: which is not
to be supposed. However, the things done between this feast and the
Passover whic