According to the Talmud (Abodah Zarah, 10), the following exhange took place between Marcus Aurelius (son-in-law of Antoninus Pius) and Rabbi Judah I;
Antoninus, the Emperor, onse said to Rabbi Judah I: “Two things I wish the Senate to do for me: to elect my son, Annias Verus Codemus, as my successor, and to make Tiberias a free city so that students of the Torah may be released from taxes. I know, however, that they will grant me only one of these two favors.”
The Rabbi thereupon had one man climb on the other’s shoulders, and the man above was handed a dove. The then said to his royal friend: “Command the man below to command the man above to release the dove.”
Antoninus then understood the Rabbi’s counsel. He was to ask the Senate to ratify the election of Codemus, and Codemus, when Emperor, would make Tiberias free.
The Emperor then said: “The patricians torment me. What shall I do?”
The Rabbi led him to a garden and pulled out a plant. The following day he pulled another. Antoninus then understood. He should rid himself of his adversaries one by one, and not engage in quarrel with them all at one time.
Antoninus was accustomed also to send to the Rabbi golden coin in sacks of wheat, with some wheat at the top of each sack. Rabbi Judah informed him that he had no need for gold, but the Emperor said: “My successors will doubtless demand much gold from your successors. Hence, in time it will all be returned to its source.”
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