k the high priesthood, was a bold man in
his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees,
[23] who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the
Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this
disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity [to exercise his
authority]. Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road;
so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the
brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and
some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an
accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be
stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens,
and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they
disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], desiring
him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he
had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to
meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed
him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without
his consent. [24] Whereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and
wrote in anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to
punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the high
priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and made Jesus,
the son of Damneus, high priest.

2. Now as soon as Albinus was come to the city of Jerusalem, he used all
his endeavors and care that the country might be kept in peace, and this
by destroying many of the Sicarii. But as for the high priest, Ananias
[25] he increased in glory every day, and this to a great degree, and
had obtained the favor and esteem of the citizens in a signal manner;
for he was a great hoarder up of money: he therefore cultivated the
friendship of Albinus, and of the high priest [Jesus], by making
them presents; he also had servants who were very wicked, who
joined themselves to the boldest sort of the people, and went to the
thrashing-floors, and took away the tithes that belonged to the priests
by violence, and did not refrain from beating such as would not give
these tithes to them. So the other high priests acted in the like
manner, as did those his servants, without any one being able to
prohibit them; so that [some of the] priests, that of old were wont to
be supported with