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DATE |
ROME |
JUDEA |
NEW TESTAMENT |
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B.C.
47
44
31
19
4
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Pompey and Crassus are induced to
form the "first Triumvirate," along with Gaius Julius Caesar. A
Triumvirate was a coalition of the leaders of political parties who could
not gain complete control alone. Politically, Pompey and Crassus are middle
of the road. Caesar is on the left. Roman legions soon become mere
mercenaries, loyal to the one who pays them. Loyalty by the legions will
many times shift with fortunes or politics. Civil wars put legion against
legion.
At 56 years of age, Caesar is murdered in the Senate by rightwing extremists. A triumvirate is formed, after some initial fighting, composed of 19 year old Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, Caesar's nephew and legal heir, along with Marc Antony and Lepidus. Antony had been Caesar's field-Marshall and co-consul, and Lepidus, Caesar's Master of Horse. Antony, filled with lust for his own empire in the east, and enamored with Cleopatra, publicly insults his wife Octavia, the sister of Octavian, commits treason and brings on open war. Octavian defeats the 51 year old Antony, and Cleopatra, at Actium, off the northwest coast of Greece, and becomes sole ruler of the Empire (until his death in 14 A.D at 76 years of age). In admiration for his exploits, Octavian is voted the honorary title of Augustus (exalted) by the Senate in 27, and is known by that name from that time on. The Julian 'family' will rule until Vespasian, takes control.
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The Holy Land comes under Roman rule about 63 B.C. by the
conquest of Pompey. Jews are given full religious rights and political
liberty under the Maccabees, although they have to pay tribute. Antfpater
sends a Jewish force to Egypt to help rescue Caesar. Caesar makes
Antipater procurator of Judea and his son, Herod (the Great), governor of
Galilee. Well into the first century, Jews will hold favored status in the
Empire because of this, an advantage to the spread of the gospel.
Taking advantage of the death of Caesar, an enemy poisons Antipater in 43. 29 year old Herod (the Great) attaches himself to one Roman power after another. Antony and Octavian appoints him King in 40 but it is 37 before he is King in power. He is compelled to support Antony and Cleopatra in the conflict with Octavian. After Actium, he is able to regain the favor of Octavian. With the defeat of his patron, Herod pleads his case directly to Augustus, pledging his loyalty. Augustus not only forgives Herod but increases his power. It allows Herod to tighten his grip on his domain. Herod begins, construction of the new temple, which will not be completed until 64 A.D., shortly before its destruction by Rome, Death of Herod. Insanity grips Herod, characterized by dissolution and extreme cruelty in the latter part of his reign. His son, Archelaus replaces him, but only over Judea and Samaria as "Ethnarch", not King. |
Augustus and Herod are both living when Jesus is born. Matthew2-Luke2. Augustus establishes Nicopolis ("City of Victory"), on the site of his headquarters for the Battle of Actium. (Titus 3:12). John 2:19-20 tells us that
at that time (27 A.D.) the temple had been under construction for 46
years. Matthew 2:16-23. Jesus is born just before Herod's death. The census at the time of the birth of Jesus is ordered by Augustus,(Luke 2:1-2.) |