Acts of God Prevent the Rebuilding of the Temple

The emperor, in another attempt to molest the Christians, exposed his superstition. Being fond of sacrificing, he not only delighted in the blood of victims [sacrifices] but considered it an affront to him if others did not do the same. As he found very few like-minded people, he sent for the Jews and inquired as to why they abstained from sacrificing, since the law of Moses commanded it. When they replied that it was not permitted for them to do this [to offer sacrifices] in any place other than Jerusalem, he immediately ordered them to rebuild Solomon’s Temple. Meanwhile, he proceeded on his expedition against the Persians. The Jews, who had long desired to obtain a favorable opportunity to rebuild their Temple so that they might offer sacrifices, applied themselves very vigorously to the work. Moreover, they behaved very insolently toward the Christians and threatened to do them as much mischief as they had themselves suffered from the Romans. Because the emperor had ordered that the expenses for this structure be defrayed out of the public treasury, all things were soon provided, including timber and stone, burnt brick, clay, lime, and all other materials necessary for building. On this occasion, Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, called to mind the prophecy of Daniel, which Christ also confirmed in the holy Gospels, and predicted in the presence of many people that the time had indeed come “in which one stone should not be left upon another in that Temple” (Matthew 24:2) but that the Savior’s prophetic declaration should be fully accomplished. Such were the bishop’s words. On the following night, a mighty earthquake tore up the stones of the old foundations of the Temple and dispersed them all together with the adjacent edifices. Terror consequently possessed the Jews on account of the event, and the report of it brought many who resided at great distance to the spot. When a vast multitude had assembled, another prodigious event took place. Fire came down from heaven and consumed all the builders’ tools, so that the flames were seen preying upon mallets, irons to smooth and polish stones, saws, hatchets, adzes—in short, all the various implements that the workmen had procured as necessary for the undertaking; and the fire continued burning among these for a whole day. The Jews were indeed in the greatest possible alarm and unwillingly confessed [belief in] Christ, calling him God; yet they did not do his will but, influenced by long-held beliefs, still clung to Judaism. Even a third miracle, which happened afterward, failed to lead them to belief in the truth. For the next night, luminous impressions of a cross appeared imprinted on their garments, which, at daybreak, they tried in vain to rub or wash out. They were therefore “blinded,” as the apostle says, and cast away the good that they had in their hands. And thus the Temple, instead of being rebuilt, was wholly overthrown at that time.