Josephus’ Education

I myself, having been brought up with my brother, whose name was Matthias—he had been born my legitimate brother from both parents—was making great advancements in the progress of my education, appearing to excel in both memorization and comprehension. And while still a boy, around fourteen years of age, I used to be praised by everyone for my devotion to letters, such that the chief priests and leading men of the city would frequently come to me,¹ in order to learn from me a more accurate understanding of some point of the law. At around sixteen years of age, I wished to acquire experience in the religious sects among us; and these sects, as we have often mentioned previously, are three: first are the Pharisees, the second the Sadducees, and the third the Essenes. For I believed that, if I should examine all of them closely, I would choose the best.