Apologetics -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Celsus (Platonic philosopher), active 180; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
continued even to death, with a disposition of mind that would not
invent regarding their Teacher what was not true, is a very evident
proof to all candid judges that they were fully persuaded of the truth
of what they wrote, seeing they submitted to trials so numerous and so
severe, for the sake of Him whom they believed to be the Son of God.
Footnote 69:
Matt. xxvi. 61.
Footnote 70:
John xviii. 4 sqq.
Footnote 71:
Matt. xxvi. 52-54.
Chapter XI.
In the next place, that He was betrayed by those whom He called His
disciples, is a circumstance which the Jew of Celsus learned from the
Gospels; calling the one Judas, however, “many disciples,” that he might
seem to add force to the accusation. Nor did he trouble himself to take
note of all that is related concerning Judas; how this Judas, having
come to entertain opposite and conflicting opinions regarding his
Master, neither opposed Him with his whole soul, nor yet with his whole
soul preserved the respect due by a pupil to his teacher. For he that
betrayed Him gave to the multitude that came to apprehend Jesus, a sign,
saying, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, it is he; seize ye him,”—retaining
still some element of respect for his Master: for unless he had done so,
he would have betrayed Him, even publicly, without any pretence of
affection. This circumstance, therefore, will satisfy all with regard to
the purpose of Judas, that along with his covetous disposition, and his
wicked design to betray his Master, he had still a feeling of a mixed
character in his mind, produced in him by the words of Jesus, which had
the appearance (so to speak) of some remnant of good. For it is related
that, “when Judas, who betrayed Him, knew that He was condemned, he
repented, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the high
priest and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the
innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to
that;”[72]—and that, having thrown the money down in the temple, he
departed, and went and hanged himself. But if this covetous Judas, who
also stole the money placed in the bag for the relief of the poor,
repented, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief
priests and elders, it is clear that the instructions of Jesus had been
able to produce some feeling of repentance in his mind, and were not
altogether despised and loathed by this traitor. Nay, the declaration,
“I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood,” was a
public acknowledgment of his crime. Observe, also, how exceedingly
passionate[73] was the sorrow for his sins that proceeded from that
repentance, and which would not suffer him any longer to live; and how,
after he had cast the money down in the temple, he withdrew, and went
away and hanged himself: for he passed sentence upon himself, showing
what a power the teaching of Jesus had over this sinner Judas, this
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