_Tiberius_ in the beginning of his reign made _Valerius Gratus_ President of _Judea_; and after 11 years, substituted _Pontius Pilate_, who governed 10 years. Then _Vitellius_, newly made President of _Syria_, deprived him of his honour, substituting _Marcellus_, and at length sent him to _Rome_: but, by reason of delays, _Tiberius_ died before _Pilate_ got thither. In the mean time _Vitellius_, after he had deposed _Pilate_, came to _Jerusalem_ in the time of the Passover, to visit that Province as well as others in the beginning of his office; and in the place of _Caiaphas_, then High Priest, created _Jonathas_ the son of _Ananus_, or _Annas_ as he is called in scripture. Afterwards, when _Vitellius_ was returned to _Antioch_, he received letters from _Tiberius_, to make peace with _Artabanus_ king of the _Parthians_. At the same time the _Alans_, by the sollicitation of _Tiberius_, invaded the kingdom of _Artabanus_; and his subjects also, by the procurement of _Vitellius_, soon after rebelled: for _Tiberius_ thought that _Artabanus_, thus pressed with difficulties, would more readily accept the conditions of peace. _Artabanus_ therefore straightway gathering a greater army, opprest the rebels; and then meeting _Vitellius_ at _Euphrates_, made a league with the _Romans_. After this _Tiberius_ commanded _Vitellius_ to make war upon _Aretas_ King of _Arabia_. He therefore leading his army against _Aretas_, went together with _Herod_ to _Jerusalem_, to sacrifice at the publick feast which was then to be celebrated. Where being received honourably, he stayed three days, and in the mean while translated the high Priesthood from _Jonathas_ to his brother _Theophilus_: and the fourth day, receiving letters of the death of _Tiberius_, made the people swear allegiance to _Caius_ the new Emperor; and recalling his army, sent them into quarters. All this is related by _Josephus_ _Antiq._ _lib._ 18. _c._ 6, 7. Now _Tiberius_ reigned 22 years and 7 months, and died _March_ 16, in the beginning of the year of _Christ_ 37; and the feast of the Passover fell on _April_ 20 following, that is, 35 days after the death of _Tiberius_: so that there were about 36 or 38 days, for the news of his death to come from _Rome_ to _Vitellius_ at _Jerusalem_; which being a convenient time for that message, confirms that the feast which _Vitellius_ and _Herod_ now went up to was the Passover. For had it been the Pentecost, as is usually supposed, _Vitellius_ would have continued three months ignorant of the Emperor's death: which is not to be supposed. However, the things done between this feast and the Passover which _Vitellius_ was at before, namely, the stirring up a sedition in _Parthia_, the quieting that sedition, the making a league after that with the _Parthians_, the sending news of that league to _Rome_, the receiving new orders from thence to go against the _Arabians_, and the putting those orders in execution; required much more time than the fifty