son of the same Hanan who had played the principal part in the trial of Jesus.  The Sadducean family of Hanan retained the pontificate a long time, and more powerful than ever, continued to wage against the disciples and the family of Jesus, the implacable war which they had commenced against the Founder.  Christianity, which owed to him the definitive act of its foundation, owed to him also its first martyrs.  Hanan passed for one of the happiest men of his age.[5] He who was truly guilty of the death of Jesus ended his life full of honors and respect, never having doubted for an instant that he had rendered a great service to the nation.  His sons continued to reign around the temple, kept down with difficulty by the procurators,[6] ofttimes dispensing with the consent of the latter in order to gratify their haughty and violent instincts.

[Footnote 1:  The year 33 corresponds well with one of the data of the problem, namely, that the 14th of Nisan was a Friday.  If we reject the year 33, in order to find a year which fulfils the above condition, we must at least go back to the year 29, or go forward to the year 36.]

[Footnote 2:  Luke iii. 1.]

[Footnote 3:  Jos., Ant., XVIII. iv. 2 and 3.]

[Footnote 4:  The contrary assertion of Tertullian and Eusebius arises from a worthless apocryphal writing (See Philo, Cod.  Apocr., N.T., p. 813, and following.) The suicide of Pilate (Eusebius, H.E., ii. 7; Chron. ad annl.  Caii) appears also to be derived from legendary records.]

[Footnote 5:  Jos., Ant., XX. ix. 1.]

[Footnote 6:  Jos., l.c.]

Antipas and Herodias soon disappeared also from the political scene.  Herod Agrippa having been raised to the dignity of king by Caligula, the jealous Herodias swore that she also would be queen.  Pressed incessantly by this ambitious woman, who treated him as a coward, because he suffered a superior in his family, Antipas overcame his natural indolence, and went to Rome to solicit the title which his nephew had just obtained (the year 39 of our era).  But the affair turned out in the worst possible manner.  Injured in the eyes of the emperor by Herod Agrippa, Antipas was removed, and dragged out the rest of his life in exile at Lyons and in Spain.  Herodias followed him in his misfortunes.[1] A hundred years, at least, were to elapse before the name of their obscure subject, now become deified, should appear in these remote countries to brand upon their tombs the murder of John the Baptist.

[Footnote 1:  Jos., Ant., XVIII. vii. 1, 2; B.J., II. ix. 6.]