th, and Agrippa in the ninth. Thus have I set
down the genealogy of my family as I have found it described [2] in the
public records, and so bid adieu to those who calumniate me [as of a
lower original].

2. Now, my father Matthias was not only eminent on account of is
nobility, but had a higher commendation on account of his righteousness,
and was in great reputation in Jerusalem, the greatest city we have. I
was myself brought up with my brother, whose name was Matthias, for
he was my own brother, by both father and mother; and I made mighty
proficiency in the improvements of my learning, and appeared to have
both a great memory and understanding. Moreover, when I was a child, and
about fourteen years of age, I was commended by all for the love I had
to learning; on which account the high priests and principal men of the
city came then frequently to me together, in order to know my opinion
about the accurate understanding of points of the law. And when I was
about sixteen years old, I had a mind to make trim of the several sects
that were among us. These sects are three:-- The first is that of the
Pharisees, the second that Sadducees, and the third that of the Essens,
as we have frequently told you; for I thought that by this means I might
choose the best, if I were once acquainted with them all; so I contented
myself with hard fare, and underwent great difficulties, and went
through them all. Nor did I content myself with these trials only; but
when I was informed that one, whose name was Banus, lived in the desert,
and used no other clothing than grew upon trees, and had no other food
than what grew of its own accord, and bathed himself in cold water
frequently, both by night and by day, in order to preserve his chastity,
I imitated him in those things, and continued with him three years.
[3] So when I had accomplished my desires, I returned back to the city,
being now nineteen years old, and began to conduct myself according to
the rules of the sect of the Pharisees, which is of kin to the sect of
the Stoics, as the Greeks call them.

3. But when I was in the twenty-sixth year of my age, it happened that
I took a voyage to Rome, and this on the occasion which I shall now
describe. At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea there were
certain priests of my acquaintance, and very excellent persons they
were, whom on a small and trifling occasion he had put into bonds, and
sent to Rome to plead their cause before