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DATE |
ROME |
JUDEA |
NEW TESTAMENT |
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54
55 56
57
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Claudius is beginning to realize the
wickedness of Agrippina. He decides to put an end to her power, circumvent
Nero, and name his son, Britannicus, as his heir. Before he can do so,
Agrippina poisons Claudius. With her friend, Burrus, the Prefect of the
Guard, it is a simple matter to have Nero acknowledged as emperor. Nero
Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, seventeen years old, is now emperor.
His paternal great grandparents were Antony and Octavia. According to some
ancient historians, the first five years of Nero's rule were the best
years of the imperial government. Yet, privately, Nero is indulged in
every pleasure, and sinks into insanity in the later part of his reign.
Narcissus, the confidante of Messalina, and her betrayer, is killed.
Britannicus is killed by Nero in 55. These are harbingers of things to
come. It is Nero to whom Paul appeals for justice, Acts 25:11-12, 21, 32; 27:24; 28:29, Philippians 4:22.
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Felix assumes the Procurator office, he marries the Jewish princess Drusilla (Acts 4:24), sister of Agrippa II. At this time, anarchists and fanatics rise in large numbers among the Jews. Felix can do little to curb them. He imprisons the militant leader of the zealots, Eleazar Dinaei. He has the former High Priest, Jonathan (he was the authority behind the stoning of Stephen) assassinated. Jonathan is leader of the party of Annas and heads the aristocratic patriots. These measures only inflame violence. Young Zealots form the sicarii an order of assassins. Other turmoil follows, making the last two years of his Procuratorship ineffective. In 59, Nero murders his mother, confiscates the wealth of Felix's brother, Pellas, and precedes to depose Felix as well. | "After
he had spent some time there," from spring of 53, (Acts
18:18-21), Paul leaves Antioch late in 53 for his third journey,(Acts
8:23). Passing through Galatia he arrives at Ephesus where he stays three
years, (Acts 20:31). While there, he apparently suffers imprisonment (II
Cor. 6:5), a sentence of death (II Cor. 1:&11), and is "thrown to the
lions" (I Cor. 15:32). Shortly after arriving, perhaps late 55
to early 56, he writes his third letter, the Galatian epistle (Perhaps,
while at Ephesus, Paul makes a quick trip to Corinth which is not recorded
in Acts [II Cor 12:14; 13:1-2). This may have prompted, after returning to
Ephesus, a short letter that is now lost to us [I Corinthians 5:9;(see
also II Corinthians 7:8, same phrase referring to I Corinthians but
materially included in his later epistles).
At the close of his three years stay in Ephesus, Paul writes I Corinthians. (see I Cor 16:5-9; Acts 19:21). Paul has to leave Ephesus sooner than expected (Acts 19:23-20:1). He goes through Troas to Macedonia where he writes II Corinthians (see Acts 19:1-2; II Corinthians 2:1313; 7:5-7). Titus is sent back from there to Achaia and Corinth in regard to the collection (II Corinthians 8:6, 16-18, 22-24). Paul soon follows and spends the winter at Corinth (Acts 20:3) |