The legions serving in Syria and Judæa about the time of Vespasian, were— In Syria, Legio iii. Gallica. iv. Scythica. vi. Ferrata. xii. Fulminifera. In Judæa, Legio v. Macedonica. X. xv. Apollinaris. 66 But we do not find either of the legions called " Augusta.”56 In the note upon Acts x. 1, it is observed that the Romans levied many soldiers to recruit their forces in Syria and Judæa.57 Among these levies two were pre-eminently distinguished: those from Cæsarea (Kaloapeîs) and those from Samaria (eßaσтnvoi).58 Josephus mentions Cumanus, the predecessor of Felix, as taking with him a troop of these Sebastenoi — ἀναλαβὼν τὴν τῶν Σεβαστηνῶν εἴλην.59 We have seen, by the testimony afforded both by history and by coins, that no soldier of a "legio Augusta," or "cohors Augusta," could have been quartered in Syria or Judæa. It is, therefore, most probable that the Teipa Zeßaorn was a Samaritan corps in the Roman army; whether forming a part of a legion or not is immaterial. The en Zeẞaστηvæv, mentioned above, were horse; but we may fairly infer that among so numerous a body as the Zeẞaoτnvo, there were foot as well as horse. 56 Brotier in Tacit. iii. p. 480. 57 Josephus, Ant. xix. 9, 2. 58 For the name of Samaria being changed to Sebaste, by Herod, see Forbiger, Handbuch der Alt. Geogr. p. 696. 59 Josephus, Ant. xx. 6, 1. 62 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. PAGE. 39. Coin of Agrippa Magnus 41. 44. 45. 46. 46. 49. 51. 53. 55. 56. 58. } Brass of Agrippa, son of Agrippa Dr. John Lee. ***The coins, No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9, in the plate, are drawn from specimens in the cabinet of Dr. John Lee. No. 8 is the reverse of a very fine coin in the collection of Mr. Sparkes. |