Another proof that Paul belonged to the circle of the “Initiates” lies in the following fact. The apostle had his head shorn at Ceuchreæ, where Lucius (_Apuleius_) was initiated, because “he had a vow.” The Nazars—or set apart—as we see in the Jewish Scriptures, had to cut their hair, which they wore long, and which “no razor touched” at any other time, and sacrifice it on the altar of initiation. And the Nazars were a class of Chaldæan Theurgists or Initiates. It is shown in _Isis Unveiled_ that Jesus belonged to this class. Paul declares that: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise _master‐builder_, I have laid the foundation.” (_I. Corinth._, iii. 10.) This expression, master‐builder, used only _once_ in the whole _Bible_, and by Paul, may be considered as a whole revelation. In the Mysteries, the third part of the sacred rites was called Epopteia, or revelation, reception into the secrets. In substance it means the highest stage of clairvoyance—the divine; ... but the real significance of the word is “overseeing,” from ὄπτομαι—“I see myself.” In Sanskrit the root _âp_ had the same meaning originally, though now it is understood as meaning “to obtain.”(224) The word _epopteia_ is compound, from ἐπὶ “upon,” and ὄπτομαι “to look,” or an overseer, an inspector—also used for a master‐ builder. The title of master‐mason, in Freemasonry, is derived from this, in the sense used in the Mysteries. Therefore, when Paul entitles himself a “master‐builder,” he is using a word pre‐ eminently kabalistic, theurgic, and masonic, and one which no other apostle uses. He thus declares himself an _adept_, having the right to initiate others. If we search in this direction, with those sure guides, the Grecian Mysteries and the _Kabalah_, before us, it will be easy to find the secret reason why Paul was so persecuted and hated by Peter, John, and James. The author of the _Revelation_ was a Jewish Kabalist, _pur sang_, with all the hatred inherited by him from his forefathers toward the pagan Mysteries.(225) His jealousy during the life of Jesus extended even to Peter; and it is but after the death of their common master that we see the two apostles—the former of whom wore the Mitre and the Petaloon of the Jewish Rabbis—preach so zealously the rite of circumcision. In the eyes of Peter, Paul, who had humiliated him, and whom he felt so much his superior in “Greek learning” and philosophy, must have naturally appeared as a magician, a man polluted with the “Gnosis,” with the “wisdom” of the Greek Mysteries—hence, perhaps, “Simon the Magician” as a comparison, not a nickname.(226) SECTION XVI. PETER A JEWISH KABALIST, NOT AN INITIATE.