"Josephus" by Norman Bentwich is a biography that provides a comprehensive and insightful account of the life and works of Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian and scholar from the first century AD. Bentwich delves into Josephus' early years, his experiences during the Jewish-Roman War, and his subsequent collaboration with the Roman Empire. The book explores Josephus' significant contributions to Jewish historiography, particularly his works "The Jewish War" and "Jewish Antiquities," which document the events and culture of ancient Judea. Bentwich analyzes Josephus' writings in the context of his political circumstances, shedding light on his motivations and the challenges he faced as a Jewish leader collaborating with the Romans. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Bentwich paints a vivid picture of Josephus' life, offering readers valuable insights into the political, social, and religious dynamics of ancient Judea. The biography also explores Josephus' controversial reputation among Jews and Christians, his impact on historiography, and his enduring influence on the understanding of Jewish history.

The publication of the apocryphal Acts of the Apostles has unveiled a vast yet unexplored domain in ancient Christian literature. These Acts, particularly the oldest ones, provide insights into second-century Christianity. They are vital for understanding early Christian worship practices and offer a glimpse into divine services held in homes, complementing the Acts of the Apostles. They also hold significance in the history of Christian poetry, notably within Gnostic circles. Despite their mix of fact and fiction, these Acts are relevant to educators, preachers, missionaries, and historians. The oldest and most significant Acts are presented in this volume. These Acts are crucial for early Church literature and provide valuable insights into Christian history. Bernhard Pick (1842–1917) was a German-American Lutheran pastor and prolific scholar, studied at New York City's Union Theological Seminary. He contributed extensively to theological encyclopedias, provided critical indexes, and delved into hymnology. This Reader's Edition is based on a public domain text. This text has been thoroughly spellchecked and proofread to correct errors that appear in the public domain edition. The formatting has also been altered to provide a cleaner, more readable experience. Introductions and footnotes not native to the text have been removed to avoid interruptions to and distractions from the text. Many readers find that this allows them a greater ability to focus on the text itself. It is our hope that this Reader's Edition will provide you with the best possible reading experience of this classic text. Our mission is to breathe new life into the pages of the past by removing barriers between the reader and the text.