Bearers of False Witness

Now our enemies, the Jews: as is their habit, they accused us and Simeon. Indeed, they are usually found to be for evil rather than good in a time such as this, just as they clamored against Pilate at the killing of Christ. For they were impudent, and they said [to Shapur], “If you, King, were to send your great learned royal letters, and your glorious offerings and delicious majestic gifts, they would not be well received or much revered in the eyes of Caesar. But if Simeon were to send him a trivial and curt letter, he would arise and bow and receive it with both his hands and diligently fulfill its requests.”

How similar are the false witnesses against Simeon to the iniquitous witnesses against his Lord! They killed our Lord and were repudiated, and they were dispersed throughout the lands as foreigners and miscreants. They accuse Simeon and were mocked, and an injury fell upon their skulls in the destruction of many thousands, [an injury] that suddenly befell them because they were gathered together in order to go to the rebuilding of Jerusalem at the word of one who led them astray. [ . . . ]

When he [Simeon—Ed.] departed his city, his guards headed toward the neighborhood of the church, which had been built by him in great honor. But he asked them not to take him out there because a few days earlier it had been destroyed by the Magi in the company of the Jews.