In Babylon the Torah had been translated into Aramaic—at least orally—beginning in the 5th century BC (Neh 8:8). Then, leading up to the time when the New Testament was written—Greek being widespread due to the conquests of Alexander the Great—the Bible scholars in Egypt wished to have the Hebrew Scriptures available in Greek. The Septuagint (LXX), translated about 250–50 BC, gained widespread acceptance. In fact, Christ (Mt 4:4), the Gospel writers (Mt 21:9), Paul (Rm 9:7), and Peter (1Pt 1:16)