p. 95, 1. 18. 'Sardis' was also a manufacturing town, especially of beautiful woollen fabrics. It had been the residence of the kings of Lydia. It was almost destroyed by an earthquake in the reign of Tiberius, and the drying up of the river Pactolus made the site desperately unhealthy. It is now utterly desolate. p. 96, 1. 9. 'Philadelphia' was the centre of the wine-growing district of the country. A succession of earthquakes had, however, almost ruined it. Hence its 'poverty.'

p. 97, 1. 5. Laodicea' was a rich and prosperous town, not far from Colosse. When St. Paul wrote to the Colossians he seems to have sent a letter to Laodicea (cp. iv. 16). The stern warning which St. John was commanded to utter (iii. 14-22) would seem to have been listened to. In later days Laodicea was the seat of some Church councils, and here was drawn up the authorised canons of the New Testament.

p. 132, 1. 2. 'Gog and Magog,' the barbarous and at that time only slightly known races, lying in the north of Europe and in the region round the Caucasus. The Apostle contemplates the triumph of the Church as far as the Roman Empire is concerned, and the devil as attempting to make servants of these wild, far-off tribes.

p. 135, 1. 1. The general interpretation will be found in the Introduction. It is impossible to say with any certainty the several meanings of the precious stones. Mystical writers have attempted it, but the explanations are very conflicting, whereas the general sense is perfectly clear.

The Birth of Christ, or the inauguration of the Christian Era, occurred in Era' in the Julian Period, 4714.

Extent of the Roman Empire:-The Roman Empire, shortly after the birth to the Arabian Deserts.

A.D.

Life of

Christ.

1-10

PALESTINE.

Armenia was

At the birth of Christ, Herod divided into two the Great occupied the throne parts, Major of Palestine. He died in B.C. and Minor, 4, at which time the kingdom and, at the time was divided between his three of Christ's Ad- surviving sons-Archelaus as The Parthian vent, the latter ethnarch received Judæa, kingdom, which was dependent Samaria and Idumea; Philip had been founded on Rome. was made tetrarch of Auronitis, by Arsaces I. in Gaulonitis, Batanca, Paneas B.C. 250 out of one and Trachonitis; and Antiof the sections of pas received, as tetrarch, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, shortly after the Christian Era underwent what was

tanta

mount to a revolu-
tion. Augustus, in
return for certain
favours rendered to
him, sent Phraates,
the Parthian king,
a female slave,
Thermusa, who

Galilee and Peræa.

Archelaus was banished in the tenth year of his government (A.D. 6). Judæa and Samaria were annexed to Syria under procurators: troubles ensued among the Jews, chiefly owing to the taxes laid on them. Christ, in the twelfth year of his age, went into the temple and sat among the doctors.

Coponius was the first pro

reality four years before the commencement of the so-called 'Vulgar

of Christ, extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Tigris, and from Britain

The Birth of Christ, or the inauguration of the Christian Era, occurred in Era' in the Julian Period, 4714.

Extent of the Roman Empire:-The Roman Empire, shortly after the birth to the Arabian Deserts.

At the birth of Christ, Herod divided into two the Great occupied the throne parts, Major of Palestine. He died in B.C. and Minor, 4, at which time the kingdom and, at the time was divided between his three of Christ's Ad-surviving sons-Archelaus as ethnarch received Judæa,

reality four years before the commencement of the so-called 'Vulgar

of Christ, extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Tigris, and from Britain