During five days the petitioners remained before the palace of the Procurator, sending up ceaseless supplications. On the sixth day Pilate attempted to terrify them, and threatened that they should be cut down by his legions if they did not immediately disperse. However, when he found that the Judæans were determined to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, rather than their religious convictions, and perhaps afraid of the disapproval of Tiberius, he at last gave way, and issued a command that the cause of their anger should be removed. But he provoked the indignation of the inhabitants of Jerusalem against himself a short time after. He purposed making an aqueduct from a spring at a distance of four geographical miles from the town of Jerusalem. In order to meet the necessary expenses, he possessed himself of the treasures in the Temple (the korban). He was in Jerusalem at the time, and was surrounded by an angry populace, who assailed him with execrations. He did not venture to call out his legions, but ordered a number of soldiers to disguise themselves in the Judæan dress, and to mingle with the crowd and attack them. The multitudes rapidly dispersed, but not before great numbers of them had been killed and wounded. CHAPTER VI. MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS AND ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY. The Messianic Hope--Various Conceptions of the Expected Messiah--The Essene Idea of the Kingdom of Heaven--John the Baptist, his Work and Imprisonment--Jesus of Nazareth continues John's Labors--Story of his Birth--His Success--His Relations to Judaism and the Sects--His Miraculous Healing of the Sick and Exorcism of Demons--His Secret Appearance as the Messiah--His Journey to Judæa--Accusations against him, and his Condemnation--The First Christian Community and its Chiefs--The Ebionites--Removal of Pilate from Judæa--Vitellius, Governor of Syria, favors the Judæans. 28-37 C. E.