The English

The English are ever so polite, have been shown such hospitality from Richard and Helen Powell and their two boys, Jack and Tom, who are the most well behaved children. They've been away so really it was only on Monday that we had our first meal together. I was offering around the last of the veggies before finishing them off, asked the older boy Jack if he wanted any more. He said he wanted the carrots. The last two baby carrots went onto Jack's plate. When I asked Tom if he wanted any more, he said carrots, of which there were now none. So without being asked Jack gave his little brother one of the carrots!

A growing lad and his food are not easily parted.

Friday 18th another day in the library. Knocked over the first set of assignments on key sights in Israel, Megiddo, Caesarea Maritima and Capernaum and there significance for understanding the gospel.

Sat 19th was a fine day. Went riding along the River Cam, which is where Cam Bridge got it’s name. The place where the bridge was across the Cam. The usually reserved English were screaming up and down the river, there was a College rowing regatta on. Rode to Fen Ditton, Horningsea across to Stow cum Quy (which means the high place with cows) and onto an old milling town called Lode.

Sun 20th went to church at St Andrews the Great, (there is also a St. Andrews the Less, but who’d want to go there!) Then caught the train to Hitchin to meet up with some new found South African friends who had previously offered me a bed if accommodation fell through in Cambridge. Went for a English Pub traditional roast. All around are these quaint pubs.

Mon 21 and Tues 22nd the work has bogged down. Have been working on Archelaus, Herod the Great’s son who is mentioned in Matthew 2:22. It’s been hard work plowing through all the primary sources. An interesting piece of contempry history seems to be behind the parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19:11-27. Behind these particular verses;

12“A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return…14“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15 “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that…27 these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”,

It seems was the story of Archelaus, who went to Rome to receive the kingdom from Caesar after the death of Herod the Great. The Jews at home revolted against his rule. They sent a delegation of fifty Pharisees to Rome to petition Caesar Augustus. On return from Rome, Archelaus had them all killed.

Had tea last night with Amelia and David Hohne who were in my year at college. David is here doing a PhD in theology on the Holy Spirit. There are so many high powered people here. I feel like I’m doing a school project!

Wed 22nd has brought an end to Archelaus. Yeah. Tomorrow Pontius Pilate through the eyes of Josephus, Philo, and Tacitus.