Assassin

Used in RV of Ac SI" as a transla- tion of tlie Greek o-ndpios (AV 'murderer'). St. Paul is said to have been mistaken by Lysias, the chief captain, for the Egyptian who liad ' led into the wilderness the 4000 men of the Assassins.' According to Jos. there arom in Judiea during the procuratorship of Felix a body of men called aixapioi.

They were robbers, who carried under their garments a short sword, about the size of a Persian scimitar (dxii'ditTjs), curved like a Roman sica, whence their name, which was of Latin origin. They used to commit their murders openly, and by day, mingling in the crowd at feasts. Their first conspicuous exploit was the murder — accord- ing to Josephus at the instigation of Felix— of Jonathan, son of Annas, who had been high priest (prob. in 55 or 56 A.D.)

After this, men lived in constant dread of them. They were conspicuous under Felix, who sent troops against them, and at a later date they took a leading part in the Jewish War, and in the disturbances which led to it, being always amongst the most violent of the combatants. They held Masada, and from thence pillaged the country. Eventually some of them dispersed to Egypt and Cyrene, where, under the combined influence of want and fanaticism, they introduced a reign of terror.

Josephus never definitely connects them with the Egyptian (wh. see), as does St. Luke. Apart from the illustration aUbrded to the narrative of the Acts, the robbers and impostors who were so numerous at this time, illustrate the fanaticism, both religious and political, which culminated in the fall of Jerusalem. LrrBRATUR*. — Jos. Ant. u. viu. 6, 10, Ix. S; £/ n. xlll. 8, itvii. 6, IT. vii. 2, ix. 6, vn. viiL 1, i, 4, 6, x. 1,1; Schiiror, BJP L u. i7Sfl. A. C. Hkadlam.