the parallels between the lukan material (the gospel of luke and book of acts) and josephus' writings have long been noted. the core idea, of a man traveling to a far country being related to a kingdom, has vague similarities to herod archelaus traveling to rome in order to be given his kingdom; although this similarity is not in itself significant, josephus' account also contains details which are echoed by features of the lukan parable. josephus describes jews sending an embassy to augustus, while archelaus is travelling to rome, to complain that they do not want archelaus as their ruler; when archelaus returns, he arranges for 3000 of his enemies to be brought to him at the temple in jerusalem, where he has them slaughtered.