But when the people of Antioch were informed that Titus was approaching, they were so glad at it, that they could not keep within their walls; but hasted away to give him the meeting: nay they proceeded as far as thirty furlongs, and more, with that intention. These were not the men only, but a multitude of women also, with their children did the same. And when they saw him coming up to them, they stood on both sides of the way, and stretched out their right hands, saluting him, and making all sorts of acclamations to him, and turned back together with him. They also among all the acclamations they made to him, besought him all the way they went to eject the Jews out of their city. Yet did not Titus at all yield to this their petition; but gave them the bare hearing of it quietly. However, the Jews were in a great deal of terrible fear, under the uncertainty they were in, what his opinion was, and what he would do to them. For Titus did not stay at Antioch; but continued his progress immediately to Zeugma, which lies upon the Euphrates; whither came to him messengers from Vologeses King of Parthia, and brought him a crown of gold, upon the victory he had gained over the Jews. Which he accepted of, and feasted the King’s messengers, and then came back to Antioch. And when the senate and people of Antioch earnestly entreated him to come upon their theatre, where their whole multitude was assembled, and expected him; he complied with great humanity. But when they pressed him, with much earnestness, and continually begged of him, that he would eject the Jews out of their city, he gave them this very pertinent answer: “How can this be done? since that country of theirs, whither the Jews must be obliged then to retire, is destroyed, and no place will receive them besides.” Whereupon the people of Antioch, when they had failed of success in this their first request, made him a second. For they desired that he would order those tables of brass to be removed, on which the Jews privileges were engraven. However Titus would not grant that neither: but permitted the Jews of Antioch to continue to enjoy the very same privileges in that city which they had before: and then departed for Egypt.
Note the coincidence, as to conclusion:
They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Is not it the same Titus's decision ? "Please leave the Jews where they are, only prevent them from disturb the gentiles further".
When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
Cephas came to Antioch... ...as prisonner of Titus ? I may imagine Paul/Saul who opposed easily Simon bar Giora from a position of absolute safety: the prisonner was in chains.
Debt to Doudna for this.