Section 90
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58 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. there was a famine that prevailed over the whole world; an event, indeed, which has been handed down hy historians very far from our doctrine ; and by which the prediction of the pro phet Agabus, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, respecting the impending famine over the whole world, received its fulfilment. Luke, however, in the Acts, after stating the famine in the time of Claudius, and after recording how by means of Paul and Barna bas, the brethren at Antioch had sent to those of Judea, accord ing to the ability of each one, also adds the following. CHAPTER IX. The martyrdom of the Apostle James. " ABOUT this time, (it is manifest he means the reign of Clau dius,) Herod the king prepared to afflict some of the church. But he slew James, the brother of John with the sword." Of this James, Clement adds a narrative worthy of note, in the seventh book of his Institutions, evidently recording it according to the tradition which he had received from his ancestors. He says, that the man who led him to the judgment seat, seeing him bearing his testimony to the faith, and moved by the fact, confessed him self a Christian. Both therefore, says he, were led away to die. On their way, he entreated James to be forgiven of him, and James considering a little, replied, " Peace be to thee," and kissed nim ; and then both were beheaded at the same time. Then also, as the Scriptures say, Herod, at the death of James, seeing that the deed gave pleasure to the Jews, also attacks Peter, and hav ing committed him to prison, had well nigh executed the same murderous intention against him, had he not been wonderfully delivered from his prison by an angel appearing to him at night, and thus liberated to proclaim the gospel. Such was the provi dence of God in behalf of Peter.