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GAIUS
CALIGULA
the
grandson of Caesar Augustus wanted to
place a statue of himself in the character of
Jupiter in the temple in Jerusalem.
Agrippa,
who had become a friend of Caligula, passed
out when he heard what Caligula wanted
to do. He had to be
carried to his palace,
where it was thought that he would die.
Gaius
Caligula when
hearing of Agrippa’s reaction made
the
following statement:
“If Agrippa, who is my most intimate and
dearest
friend, and one bound to me by so many benefits, is so completely
under the influence of his national customs that he cannot bear even
to hear a word against them, but faints away to such a degree as
to be near dying, what must one expect
will be the feelings of others…”
After recovering, Agrippa made an appeal
for Caligula not to defile the temple:
In all men, O emperor! a love of their country is innate, and an eger for their national customs and laws...
And I am, as you know, a
Jew; and Jerusalem
is my country, in which is erected the holy temple of the most high
God.
And I have kings for my grandfathers and for my ancestors, the
greater part of whom have been called high priests…
Accordingly I, being one of this nation, and being attached to
this country and to such a temple, address to you this petition...
......Philo,
On the Embassy to Gaius, (263-279...) Would Agrippa, "A PRACTICING JEW" zealous to prevent idolatry from being associated with the true worship of "the most high God," have had any interest in observing a pagan celebration, before bringing Peter before the people of Jerusalem? USE THE ARROW BELOW TO
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