New Testament History

	As Old Testament history draws to a close, the Israelites have returned to their homeland to reconstruct Jerusalem and the temple.  The Persians are the major political power in that part of the world.
	Just as Daniel prophesies, though, the Greeks defeat the Persians and take control of the region.  Following a dramatic but short career, Alexander the Great dies in 323 B.C. at age 33.  This leaves a struggle for control of the extensive kingdom he has built.  At first, Alexander's four generals exercise authority over various segments of the realm.  Cassander governs Macedonia.  Lysimachus controls Thracia.  Seleucus rules over Syria and Babylon.  Ptolemy I has Egypt.   Eventually, two generals are eliminated and Seleucus and Ptolemy struggle for power.
	After more than a century of conflict, the Seleucid king Antiochus III gains control of Palestine.  He selects Hannibal as his military advisor and then sets about to fight against Rome. His defeat results in heavy taxation and a demand that his son be sent to Rome as a hostage.  When the son is released, he takes the throne from his father's successor and sets about to Hellenize the Jews.  He sets up shrines to Zeus.  He places men in the Jewish priesthood by bribery.  He even has himself escorted into the Holy of Holies in the temple.  Following a rebuff by the Romans, he takes out his anger on the Jews.  Mattathias and the Maccabeans lead a revolt.  The temple is desecrated in 167 B.C.
	During these same three centuries prior to the birth of Jesus, Rome is evolving from a simple city state into a major world power.  By 265 B.C., Rome controls the Italian peninsula. A power struggle with Carthage, the greatest maritime power of the western Mediterranean, finally ends in 146 B.C. with the Romans victorious.
	Back in Palestine, the Roman general Pompey takes Jerusalem and establishes the rule of Rome over the area.
	Julius Caesar is rejected by the Roman Senate in his attempt to become consul.  So he crosses the Rubicon river in defiance of the Senate and marches on the capital city.  Pompey is called to stop the march, but he is defeated.  Julius is assassinated by Brutus and Cassius in 44 B.C.  Mark Antony catches up with the conspirators in Philippi two years later and defeats them.
	Octavian eventually takes control of the Roman government and becomes the first emperor.  He is more commonly known by the name, Augustus.  He is a great reformer and organizer.  He tries to renew the morale of the people by reviving the state religion and rebuilding temples.  Laws passed in 19 and 18 B.C. try to encourage marriage and the establishment of homes in order to restore the family.  He organizes city services, including the police and fire departments.  It is during the reign of Augustus that Jesus is born.
	"Now it came about in those days," Luke 2:1-5 records, "that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child."
	Augustus is succeeded by his adopted son, Tiberius.  Although he is experienced in government long before his ascension to the throne at age 56, he becomes increasingly bitter and suspicious as this reign continues.  Jesus makes an indirect reference to Tiberius when asked about paying taxes, since Tiberius is ruling at the time.
	"And the scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour," we read in Luke 20:19-26, "and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.  And they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor.  And they questioned Him, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.  Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?'  But He detected their trickery and said to them, 'Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?' And they said, 'Caesar's.'  And He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'  And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and marveling at His answer, they became silent."

	The next emperor, Caligula, is remembered for his insanity and reckless spending.  He demands that he be worshiped as a God.
	Claudius then tries to rebuild the empire.  He works to revive the old religion, which results in the expulsion of the Jews from Rome.
	"After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth," Acts 18:1-3 says of Paul.  "And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers."
	The Roman historian, Suetonius, also records this event.
	Next comes the infamous Nero who, according to the historian Tacitus, incites persecution against the Christians.  Nero even has his mother murdered so that she will not interfere in the government.  It is most likely Nero to whom Paul appeals.
	"But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor," Acts 25:9-12 notes, "answered Paul and said, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these {charges}?'  But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to {the} Jews, as you also very well know. If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is {true} of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.'  Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, 'You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.'"
	Nero's excesses lead to civil war.  Galba, Otho and Vitellius all reign within a short period.  The general Vespasian is attacking Jerusalem when he is forced to return to Rome to assume power.  His son, Titus, completes the task of sacking Jerusalem.
	It is during the rule of Vespasian that the Colosseum is built.  During the subsequent reign of Titus, Pompeii and Herculaneum are destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius.  His brother, Domitian, takes the throne at his death.  Domitian revives emperor worship and, with it, renews the persecution of Christianity.
	Paul's appeal to Caesar brings to light one the important reasons why God may have selected this time for the establishment of Christianity.  The Roman empire provides protection, as well as good roads, to the early Christians who are spreading the Gospel.  As a Roman citizen, Paul has many rights and privileges. This citizenship is of great benefit when Paul and Silas are arrested in Philippi.
	"Now when day came," we read in Acts 16:35-39, "the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, 'Release those men.'  And the jailer reported these words to Paul, {saying,} 'The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace.'  But Paul said to them, 'They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.'  And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city."
	"And when they stretched him out with thongs," Acts 22:25-29 notes of a later incident, "Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, 'Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?'  And when the centurion heard {this,} he went to the commander and told him, saying, 'What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.'  And the commander came and said to him, 'Tell me, are you a Roman?' And he said, 'Yes.'  And the commander answered, 'I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.'  And Paul said, 'But I was actually born {a citizen.}' Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains."
	It is to Paul's advantage that he is a citizen of the Roman empire.  But he has a citizenship which is much more valuable.  He is a citizen of Heaven.
	"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens," Paul observes in Ephesians 2:19-22, "but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner {stone}, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
	"For our citizenship is in heaven," Paul says in Philippians 3:20-21, "from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
	Being a Roman citizen carries great freedom.  But only citizen in heaven can provide real, lasting freedom.  Only the truth can set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."