He set on foot many enterprises, some reaching far East, others West.
In the great cities he had branch houses.

The one in Antioch was in charge of a man said by some to have been a family servant called Simonides, Greek in name, yet an Israelite.

The master was drowned at sea.

His business, however, went on, and was scarcely less prosperous.

After a while misfortune overtook the family.
The prince's only son, nearly grown, tried to kill the procurator Gratus in one of the streets of Jerusalem.