Luke accurately recorded the
titles of Roman officials.
JESUS: WITNESS OF HISTORY
EARLY HISTORICAL, NON-BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO JESUS CHRIST
Secular Histories
Thallus (writing A. D. 52 to Rome)–Samaritan historian who included the crucifixion of Jesus in his history of the world and tried to explain the darkness that came over the land at the crucifixion
Serapion (writing in the mid seventies of the first century)–“What advantage did the Jews get from executing their King?”
Josephus (born A. D. 37)–“In response to a charge presented by the leading men among us, Pilate condemned him to the cross: but those who had loved him at first did not give up. For he appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the holy prophets had foretold. . . .” (Ant. 18. 3. 3)
Tacitus (writing A.D. 115 about the persecution under Nero in A.D. 64)–“Christ, had been executed when Tiberius was emperor by order of the procurator Pontius Pilate.” (Annals 15. 44)
Suetonius–“Jews were in a state of constant tumult at the instigation of one Chrestus” (Live of Claudius , 25)
Pliny (sent to govern N. Turkey in A.D. 112)–wrote letter to Emperor Trajan about the exemplary lives of Christians whom he also executed (Letters 10. 96)
Lucian–scorned Jesus and Christians (Passing of Peregrinus 13)
Post-apostolic Documents
Polycarp (born A.D. 65), Irenaeus said that “Polycarp was instructed by the apostles, and was brought into contact with many who had seen Christ” (Adv. Haer., 3. 3; Euseb. Hist. Eccl., 4. 14). Polycarp declared, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
Justin (A.D. 110-165), Apol. 1. 35–“And after He was crucified they cast lots upon His vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate.”
EXAMPLES OF HISTORICAL-POLITICAL LEADERS
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Accurate
historical and political references in the New Testament verify the
trustworthiness of the New Testament documents. After historical research into
the accuracy of Luke, archaeologist Sir William Ramsey (Luke the
Physician), reversed an earlier position and said, “Luke is a historian of
the first rank. . . .” Ramsey concluded Luke to be “unsurpassed in respect of
its trustworthiness.”
Luke accurately recorded the
titles of Roman officials.
Caesar–Lk. 2:1 (Octavian, 63 B.C.-A.D. 14, the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, became emperor in 30 B.C. He took the title of Divine Caesar and Augustus– “exalted one”)
Cyrenius–Lk. 2:2 (Luke [Acts 5:37] and Josephus recorded a “second” census [Ant. XVIII, xviii, i, 1].)
Tiberius–Lk. 3:1; Mt. 22:20; Jn. 19:12 (A.D. 14-37, Augustus’ adopted son–suspicious and cruel)
Pilate–Mt. 27:24; Lk. 3:1, 13:1; Jn. 19:6-12; Acts 4:27, 13:28; 1 Tim. 6:13 (A.D. 26-36, Josephus recorded Pilate’s attempts to abolish Jewish laws [Ant. XVIII, iii, 1], his thoughts to take Temple money for an aqueduct [Ant. XVIII, iii, 2], and his massacre of Samaritans [Ant. XVIII, lv, 1, 1]. Eusebius reported Pilate’s death by suicide.)
Claudius–Acts 18:2 (A.D. 41-54, Claudius sought to restore the significance of Roman religion; Jews expelled because of “Chrestus” [Suetonius, Live of Claudius, 25])
Nero–Acts 25:8-12 (A.D. 54-68, Nero came to the throne at seventeen and murdered his mother in A.D. 59. The people blamed Nero for a disastrous fire that burned ten of fourteen wards. Nero diverted attention from himself for starting the fire in Rome by condemning Christians to death. Tacitus [Annals, XV. 44] wrote, “In the execution, sport was made of them by putting them in animal skins and letting them be torn to pieces by wild dogs. Others were nailed to crosses or condemned to death by fire, after nightfall burning like torches.”)
Herod the Great–Mt. 2:16-17 (37 B.C.-A.D. 4)–Augustus Caesar (7 B.C.) said, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” Construction of Herod’s temple began in 20 B.C. and ended in A.D. 63 (Jn. 2:20, Wailing Wall still standing). At least two years elapsed between the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem (Mt. 2:16-17) and his death. Josephus wrote this epitaph: “A man he was of great barbarity toward all men equally, and a slave to his passions, but above the consideration of what was right.” (Ant., XVII, viii, 1). Herod died five days after executing the eldest son Antipater in the spring of 4 B.C. Josephus (Ant., XVII, vi, 4) wrote, “And that very night there was an eclipse of the moon.” This eclipse of the moon helps determine the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. It happened March 13th in the year of the Julian period 4710, and the 4th year before the Christian era.
By the final will of Herod (ratified by Rome), three of Herod’s sons inherited parts of the kingdom. Archelaus received one-half of the kingdom, with the title of king, governing Judea, Samaria and Idumea; Antipas was appointed “tetrarch” of Galilee and Perea; and Philip, “tetrarch” of Trachonitis, Gaulonitis and Paneas.
Archelaus served Judea, Samaria, and Idumea as ethnarch from 4 B.C. to A.D. 6 (Mt. 2:22)–replaced by governors (Pilate, Felix, Festus).
Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. (Mk. 6:17–rebuked by John; Lk. 13:32–called “fox” by Jesus; Lk. 23:7–helped Pilate try Jesus).
Philip governed several provinces as tetrarch from 4 B.C. to A.D. 34.
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, executed James the Apostle and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12). He ruled Palestine from A.D. 37-44 before his sudden death recorded in Acts 12:20.
Herod Agrippa II, great-grandson of Herod the Great, became tetrarch of Chalcis and other small territories in A.D. 50. Paul stood before him in Acts 26.