When they left, having gone some distance toward the filthy Jerusalem, some of the foremost Jews were lamenting because they were leaving, for they want to be present, to talk and to scheme together. Finally they did contrive, as customary with that nation, to tell me something, but it was just made up, and they said that they had come across a certain Jew who likewise speaks with them, and who told them (they spoke in waves, as if from afar) that their Messiah is now known, who is about to lead them into Palestine with greater miracles than Moses did. But I was prompted to ask them in reply whether he would live to eternity, as predicted by the Lord about the Messiah [Is. 9:6-7, Mic. 4:6-7, cf. Ps. 21:4]. They did not know what to say to this, and consulted for a long time, not knowing what they should reply because he was a man. I did not hear their consultations about how to reply, only the murmuring among themselves for quite a while. Finally they answered that he would live to eternity, thinking that God would preserve his life to eternity. But then