§. 1. A commotion in Samaria. Pilate out of office.
A Great space of time is past since we heard any news of Pontius Pilate, and news it is indeed that his malicious and stirring spirit hath not entertained us with some bloody Tragedy or other, of all this while. His Government draw∣eth now near its expiration, for he is going upon the tenth year of it, and it is a kind of miracle if so mischievous an agent, should part without acting some mischief be∣fore his exit, and this at last he did which put him out of office. There was a certain Im∣postor* 1.1 among the Samaritans (Simon Magus as like as any) that would perswade the people, that in mount Gerizim he could shew them, holy vessels which Moses had hid and laid up there with his own hand. The credulous vulgar meet by multitudes at a certain Village called Tirathaba intending when their company was full, to go see these sacred reliques. But Pilate before-hand takes the passages with his Horse and Foot, and falling upon those that were thus assembled, some he slew, others he took captive and the rest fled. Of those that he captived, he caused the noblest and most principal to be put to death. For this fact the chief men of Samaria, accuse him to Vitellius, who com∣mands him to Rome, there to answer before the Emperor what should be objected against him; and in his stead he made Marcellus a friend of his own, the Governor of Judea: but before Pilate came to Rome, Tiberius was dead. Yet hath Eusebius put off the testimo∣ny that Pilate is said to have given to Tiberius concerning the death and resurrection of Christ, and concerning the wonders wrought by him, till the next year following. A relation doubtful in it self, but more than doubtful in the issue. For first, though it be granted that Pilate bare witness to the works and wonders done by Christ, and gave testi∣mony to his Resurrection, which yet to believe requireth a better evidence than I can find any: Yet secondly, the Epistle that is pretended for this his certificate by * 1.2 Hegesip∣pus, cannot be that original one that Tertullian, and out of him Eusebius do mention, be∣cause it is indorsed to Claudius, and not to Tiberius. Thirdly, though both these were confessed and agreed unto, that Pilate wrote a Letter to Tiberius to such a purpose, and that this was the Letter, or some other that Tertullian had seen; yet can I never find the Emperor of so good a nature, and respective a disposition, as to give the desert of good∣ness its due, be it never so eminent and conspicuous, or be it in what kind soever. Fourth∣ly, and lastly, that which maketh all the rest of the story to be doubted of, and which may justly hinder the entertainment of it, is, what is added in the common relation of the story. That Tiberius referring this matter to the Senate, with his vote, that Christ should be numbred among the Gods, and Christianity among their holy things; the Senate cros∣sed him in it with flat contrariety, because Pilate had written of it to him, and not to them. Now in the Stories that have been related before concerning the state and affairs of Rome, and by other stories that might be produced in other years, it is but too miserably evident, that the Senate was in too great a fear and slavery to the Tyrant, than to dare to affront him so palpably and plainly. Pilate after this, as * 1.3 Eusebius alledgeth out of the Roman Historians, falling into many miseries, ended himself with his own hand, the common and desperate Roman remedy against distress. * 1.4 Cassiodorus hath placed his death under the Consulship of Publicola and Nerva: And the common report hath given it in, that the place was Vienna.