Tacitus could not be deceived in appropriating to the Christians of Rome the guilt and the sufferings which he might have attributed with far greater truth to the followers of Judas the Gaulonite, for the latter never went to Rome.

Their revolt, their attempts, their opinions, their wars, their punishment, had no other theatre but Judaea (Basn.Hist.des.Juifs, t.i.p.

491.) Moreover the name of Christians had long been given in Rome to the disciples of Jesus; and Tacitus affirms too positively, refers too distinctly to its etymology, to allow us to suspect any mistake on his part .-- G.

----M.

Guizot's expressions are not in the least too strong against this strange imagination of Gibbon; it may be doubted whether the followers of Judas were known as a sect under the name of Galilaeans .-- M.] [Footnote 43: See Dodwell.Paucitat.Mart.l.xiii.