tmost to prevent the people from
looking upon these stupendous events as testimonies of the innocence of
Jesus. The Roman garrison belonging to the fortress of Antonia likewise
made great efforts to maintain order; consequently, the disturbance of
the festival was not followed by an insurrection, although every heart
was fixed with fear and anxiety, which anxiety the Pharisees
endeavoured (and in some instances with success) to calm.

I remember a few other striking incidents: in the first place, the
two columns which were placed at the entrance of their Holy of Holies,
and to which a magnificent curtain was appended, were shaken to the
very foundations; the column on the left side fell down in a southerly,
and that on the right side in a northerly direction, thus rending the
veil in two from the top to the bottom with a fearful sound, and
exposing the Holy of Holies uncovered to the public gaze. A large stone
was loosened and fell from the wall at the entrance of the sanctuary,
near where the aged Simeon used to kneel, and the arch was broken. The
ground was heaved up, and many other columns were thrown down in other
parts of the Temple.

An apparition of the High Priest Zacharias, who was slain between
the porch and the altar, was seen in the sanctuary. He uttered fearful
menaces, spoke of the death of the second Zacharias, and of that of St.
John Baptist, as also of the violent deaths of the other prophets.12
The two sons of the High Priest Simon, surnamed the Just (ancestors of
the aged Simeon who prophesied when Jesus was presented in the Temple),
made their appearance in the part usually occupied by the doctors of
the law; they also spoke in terrific terms of the deaths of the
prophets, of the sacrifice of the old law which was now about to cease,
and they exhorted all present to be converted, and to embrace the
doctrines which had been preached by him whom they had crucified. The
prophet Jeremiah likewise appeared; he stood near the altar, and
proclaimed, in a menacing tone, that the ancient sacrifice was at an
end, and that a new one had commenced. As these apparitions took place
in parts where none but priests were allowed to enter, Caiphas and a
few others were alone cognisant of them, and they endeavoured, as far
as possible, either to deny their reality, or to conceal them. These
prodigies were followed by others still more extraordinary. The doors
of the sanctuary flew open of themselves, and a voice was h