The Jews Try to Rebuild Their Temple

The emperor showed his superstition in another attempt to harass the Christians. Being fond of sacrificing, he not only delighted in the blood of victims himself but took it as an insult to himself if others did not do the same. And since he found few people of that kind, he sent for the Jews and asked them why they refrained from sacrificing, since the law of Moses commanded it. They answered that they were not permitted to do this in any place but Jerusalem. At once he ordered them to rebuild Solomon’s temple, while he himself set out on his expedition against the Persians. [a]

The Jews, who had long wanted a good opportunity to raise their temple again so that they might offer sacrifice in it, set to the work with great energy. They also behaved with great arrogance toward the Christians, and threatened to do them as much harm as they themselves had suffered from the Romans. The emperor had ordered the cost of the building to be paid out of the public treasury, so everything was soon supplied: timber and stone, baked brick, clay, lime, and all the other materials needed for building. On this occasion Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, called to mind the prophecy of Daniel, which Christ also confirmed in the holy Gospels. In the presence of many people he foretold that the time had indeed come when “one stone would not be left upon another” in that temple, and that the Savior’s prophetic words would be completely fulfilled.

That is what the bishop said. And the following night a mighty earthquake tore up the stones of the old foundations of the temple and scattered them all, together with the buildings next to it. The Jews were seized with terror at what had happened, and the report of it brought many to the spot from far away. So when a vast crowd had gathered, another marvel took place. Fire came down from heaven and burned up all the builders’ tools. The flames could be seen devouring mallets, tools for smoothing and polishing stone, saws, hatchets, adzes, in short all the various implements the workmen had gathered as necessary for the undertaking. And the fire went on burning among them for a whole day. The Jews were indeed in the greatest possible alarm, and against their will they confessed Christ, calling him God. Yet they did not do his will, but held on to Judaism under the sway of long-standing prejudice. Even a third miracle, which happened afterwards, did not bring them to believe the truth. For the next night shining marks of a cross appeared printed on their clothes, and at daybreak they tried in vain to rub or wash them out. So they were “blinded,” as the apostle says, and threw away the good they had in their hands. And so the temple, instead of being rebuilt, was at that time completely overthrown.