Page:Apollonius of Tyana - the pagan Christ of the third century.pdf/66

Rh favourite disciples, amongst whom, however, disaffection, discouragement, and even treachery make their appearance. When the hour of danger is at hand, in spite of the prudent advice of his friends, he goes straight to Rome, where Domitian is seeking to kill him, just as Jesus went up to Jerusalem and to certain death. Before that he had been the victim of the murderous jealousy of Nero, as Jesus had been exposed to the machinations of Herod Antipas. Like Jesus, he is accused of working his miracles of mercy by the aid of magic and unlawful arts, whereas he can only succeed in working them because he is the friend of the gods, and worthy to be esteemed as such. Like Jesus, on the road to Damascus, he fills an avowed enemy with wondering dismay by a triumphant apparition several years after his ascension.

One very remarkable circumstance in a Greek work, written in a Greek spirit, is the great number of cases in which evil spirits are driven out at the bidding of Apollonius. He speaks to them, as it is said that Christ did, with authority. The