King Antoninus was a friend of R. Jehuda ha-Nassi. The King went to visit him by an underground passage and the two servants who accompanied him were always killed, lest through them the people should get to know that he had friendly intercourse with the Rabbi. He also gave strict orders that no one should be with the Rabbi at the time. Once he met Haninab. Hama there, but R. Jehuda said that he could be trusted. The King ordered him to call the
attendant who had been killed. When Hanina saw what had happened, he prayed to God and the attendant came to life again. The King was greatly astonished and said/ ‘It is wonderful that even the smallest amongst you is able to bring the dead to life." Once Antoninus asked the Rabbi what he should do since he wanted his son to be his successor and he also wished to exempt Tiberias from taxes for one year, and but it was not lawful to promulgate two decrees within one year. R.Jehuda placed one man on the shoulders of another and gave him a bird which he was to let fly, thereby suggesting that the king's son should promulgate the decree freeing the people from taxes. Another time Antoninus asked him what he should do to prevent the nobles from rebelling against him, and the Rabbi took him to the garden and every day pulled out one plant. Another time lie wanted to know what he should do with his daughter who had misbehaved herself, and the Rabbi sent him a plant the name of which meant “spare her," and this was the way in which they used to communicate with one another.