| 17. But when John had arrived at the city of Tiberias, he persuaded the men to revolt from their fidelity to me and to adhere to him; and many of them gladly received that invitation of his, as they were ever fond of innovations and by nature disposed to changes and delighting in seditions; but they were chiefly Justus and his father Pistus, that were earnest for their revolt from me and their adherence to John. But I came upon them and prevented them; for a messenger had come to me from Silas, whom I had made governor of Tiberias, as I have said already and had told me of the inclinations of the people of Tiberias and advised me to make haste there; because if I made any delay, the city would come under another's jurisdiction.
Upon the receipt of this letter of Silas, I took two hundred men along with me and traveled all night, having sent before a messenger to let the people of Tiberias know that I was coming to them. When I came near to the city, which was early in the morning, the multitude came out to meet me; and John came with them and saluted me, but in a most disturbed manner, as being afraid that my coming was to call him to an account for what I was now sensible he was doing. So he, in great haste, went to his lodging. But when I was in the open place of the city, having dismissed the guards I had about me, excepting one and ten armed men that were with him, I attempted to make a speech to the multitude of the people of Tiberias: and, standing on a certain elevated place, I entreated them not to be so hasty in their revolt; for that such a change in their behaviour would be to their reproach and that they would then justly be suspected by those that should be their governors hereafter, as if they were not likely to be faithful to them neither. | |
