Page:Light and truth.djvu/184

182 took her as his own wife. He defeated about 4000 outlaws, headed by an Egyptian impostor, who had posted themselves in the mount of Olives. (Acts xxi. 38.) During the administration of Felix, Judea was in a constant turmoil, being infested with robbers and assassins, and overrun with impostors pretending to be the Messiah. It was this prince that trembled at the words of Paul, (Acts xxiv. 25.) He was a bad man, and governed with great injustice and cruelty. In A. D. 60, he was recalled to Rome, and Festus was sent in his room. The Jews followed him, and complained to the government of his extortion and violence. He would have been punished with death, had not his brother Pallas, by his credit at court, preserved his life. (Acts xxiii. and xxiv.)

succeeded Felix in the government of Judea. He sent Paul, whom Felix had left bound at Caesarea, to Rome, to be tried by Caesar, to whom he appealed. (Acts xxv.) Festus was very diligent in his efforts to put an end to the disturbances and robberies which had become so frequent in Judea, in the reign of Felix, but took no trouble to investigate the claims of Christianity; and when Paul spoke of its mysteries, he thought much learning had made him mad. (Acts xxvi.) He died about A. D. 62.

numbered twenty-seven. Six, usually called Seleucides, from Seleucus, who reigned the first in Syria; and thirteen who are called Antiochus; but they are all distinguished by different surnames. Others of them assume different names. The last was called Antiochus, surname Epiphanes, Asiaticus and Commagenes. In his reign, the celebrated Pompey, an Ethiopian, a Roman General, reduced Syria into a Roman province, after it had been governed by kings for the space of two hundred and fifty years, according to Eusebius.

The Kings and their Reign in Syria. Seleucus Nicanor, reigned 20 years. Antiochus S iter, reigned 19 years. Antiochus Tlieos, reigned lo years.