Josephus the Jewish historian writes, " The Essenes also, as we call a sect of ours & live the same kind of life as do those whom the Greeks call Pythagoreans & " The Greek historian Plutarch ties " Pythagoreans " and " enigmatical modes of expression " together : " Pythagoras greatly admired the Egyptian priests, and, copying their symbolism and secret teachings, incorporated his doctrines in enigmas . " After testing Philo's " Essene " method as reconstructed by heresy-hunters in the 17th century, they conclude that Acts'" Paulus also known as Saulus " was the same " Saulus " Josephus blames for the events that led to the destruction of the Temple in 70.
