Lesson 9: The Government of Palestine (cont.)

1. Lesson 9: The Government of Palestine (cont.) From Wayne Jackson’s book

2. The Roman Caesars • Augustus (31 B.C. – 14 A.D.) • Tiberius (14-37 A.D.) • Caligula (37-41 A.D.) • Claudius (41-54 A.D.) • Nero (54-68 A.D.) • Galba, Otho & Vitellius (68-69 A.D.) • Vespasian (69-79 A.D.) • Titus (79-81 A.D.) • Domitian (81-96 A.D.)

3. The Roman/JewishConnection • Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.) • Ruled over Idumea, Samaria, Galilee and Judah • Slaughtered the infants trying to murder baby Jesus • Herod had four key sons: • Archelaus—tetrarch of Judea (including Samaria & Idumea) • Antipas—tetrarch of Galilee & Perea • Philip—tetrarch of Trachonitus & adjacent regions • Aristobulus was a 4th son, but he did not receive any land • He is important because he was the father of Herod Agrippa I

4. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants

5. The Roman/JewishConnection • Archelaus (4 B.C. – 6 A.D.) • Reigned over Judea, Samaria & Idumea • His administration was cruel & inept • After being removed from office, his territory was subsequently made subject to procurators (6-41 A.D.)—one of whom was Pontius Pilate • Archelaus is mentioned only in Matthew 2:22 • After their return from Egypt, Joseph and Mary, due to their fear of this ruler, together with the angelic warning, settled in Galilee.

6. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants Joseph & Mary feared

7. The Roman/JewishConnection • Herod Antipas (4 B.C. – 39 A.D.) • Tetrarch of Galilee, built capital Tiberias on Sea of Galilee • Married his niece, Herodias, who deserted her husband • Condemned by John the Baptist (Matt. 14:4-12) • When Antipas heard rumors that Jesus was John “risen from the dead,” he sought to see the Lord (Luke 9:7-9) • Christ once called him a “fox” (Luke 13:31-32) • Christ warned of his evil influence (Mark 8:15) • During His trial before Pilate, Jesus was sent to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time (Luke 23:7-15)

8. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants Joseph & Mary feared Beheaded John & tried Jesus

9. The Roman/JewishConnection • Herod Philip (4 B.C. – 34 A.D.) • Philip (not the former husband of Herodias) is mentioned only in Luke 3:1 • He ruled in NE Palestine until his death in 34 A.D. • He rebuilt the city of Caesarea-Philippi at the base of Mt. Hermon, and Bethsaida-Julias on the Sea of Galilee • He was the best of the Herods and it was into his territory that Jesus went when Pharisaic hatred became so intense

10. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants Joseph & Mary feared Beheaded John & tried Jesus Luke 3:1 North of Galilee

11. The Roman/JewishConnection • Agrippa I (37-44 A.D.) • Grandson of Herod the Great (and son of Aristobulus) • In 37 A.D., he received territories previously held by his uncle, Philip the tetrarch (cf. Luke 3:1) • In 39 A.D., he acquired Galilee & Perea from his uncle, Antipas • In 41 A.D., he became king of Judea, Samaria and Idumea from his uncle Archelaus • Lived in Jerusalem until his agonizing death in 44 A.D. • Which was an act of God (cf. Acts 12:21-23) • Persecuted Christians • Killed James, the brother of John, with the sword (Acts 12:1-2) • Cast Peter into prison (Acts 12:3-19) • Three of his children are mentioned in the NT • Agrippa II and Bernice (Acts 25:23) • Drusilla, who married Felix (Acts 24:24)

12. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants Killed James Worms ate him Joseph & Mary feared Beheaded John & tried Jesus Luke 3:1 North of Galilee

13. The Roman/JewishConnection • Agrippa II (48-70 A.D.) • Only 17 years old when his father died, so authorities in Rome felt it best that he not succeed his father • Eventually, he was given a small realm, Chalcis, in the Anti-Lebanon mountains • Later was added the tetrachy of Philip and certain Galilean and Perean cities • Agrippa II is the one who said to Paul, “almost you persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28) • After the death of Agrippa I, most of Palestine returned to the rule of procurators

14. The Roman/JewishConnection Slaughtered infants Killed James Worms ate him Joseph & Mary feared Beheaded John & tried Jesus Luke 3:1 North of Galilee “almost persuaded” “lived” with her brother Felix’s wife, “convenient”

15. The Roman/JewishConnection • The Procurators • After the death of Archelaus in 6 A.D., Judea was governed by procurators appointed directly by Rome • Continued until the late 30s-early 40s A.D. • Headquarters in Caesarea • Procurator had three principal responsibilities: • Financial – Collect taxes for Rome • Military – Command the military forces of the province, in order to keep peace (handle the “little things”) • Judicial – Act as judge in important judicial cases • These judicial cases were almost entirely matters that involved possible capital punishment • Minor cases were left to the jurisdiction of local courts (ex. The Sanhedrin)

16. The Roman/JewishConnection • Pontius Pilate • The procurator that mainly concerns the NT is Pilate, who, appointed by Tiberias, served as governor of Judea, Samaria and Idumea for 10 years (c. 26-36 A.D.) • Pilate was continually offending the Jews • He brought imperial ensigns into Jerusalem • He took sacred money from the Temple to finance an aqueduct for a water supply into Jerusalem • Though he lived in Caesarea, he came to Jerusalem during festive seasons—no doubt to keep the Jews under control (cf. Luke 13:1)

17. The Roman/JewishConnection • Pontius Pilate • Most remembered for his cowardly conduct during the trial of Jesus • The illegally-convened night council determined that Christ must be put to death • In order to gain Roman approval, the Jews bound the Lord and sent Him to Pilate (Matt. 27:1-2) • The governor could find no fault with Christ • He thrice declared Him innocent (cf. John 18:38; 19:4, 6) • He ignored the advice of his wife (Matt. 27:19) • Fearfully delivered Jesus to be crucified (cf. John 19:8, 12) • Because of his on-going political blunders, Pilate was summoned to Rome in 36 or 37 A.D.

18. The Roman/JewishConnection • Felix • Felix was a former slave of the household of Claudius • He was appointed procurator of Judea in 52 A.D. • One of his marriages was to Drusilla, daughter of Agrippa I, who had forsaken her husband to be his third wife • After the riot in Jerusalem in Acts 21:27ff, Paul was taken under guard to Caesarea where he made a defense before Felix (Acts 24:10ff) • Some days later, Paul reasoned of righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment before Felix and Drusilla (Acts 24:24ff) • Though Felix treated Paul kindly (cf. Acts 24:23), he nonetheless kept him imprisoned, hoping that the apostle would eventually bribe his way to freedom (Acts 24:26)

19. The Roman/JewishConnection • Festus • Appointed by Nero to succeed Felix in 60 A.D. • Attempting to dispose of Paul’s case, Festus asked the apostle if he would be willing to return to Jerusalem to face his accusers • Paul, making use of the privileges of his Roman citizenship, declined, appealing his case to Caesar’s “supreme court” (Acts 25:6-12) • It was during this time that Agrippa II and his sister Bernice (with whom he was living in a reputedly scandalous relationship) arrived at Caesarea • Paul’s brilliant defense is recorded in Acts 26 • His case was so impressive that Agrippa conceded that had not Paul already appealed to Caesar, he might well have been set free

20. The Roman/JewishConnection • Jewish revolution against Rome broke out in 66 A.D. • Vespasian was sent to put down the revolt • Upon the death of Nero (68 A.D.), Vespasian returned to Rome (he was proclaimed emperor), and dispatched his son Titus to finish the campaign against the Jews • After a horrible 5-month siege (cf. Matt. 24:21-22), Jerusalem fell. • Multiplied tens of thousands were slain or sold into slavery • With this calamity, the national identity of Judaism came to an end • The Sanhedrin and the Temple ceremonies were forever abolished • Judaism, religiously and politically, was buried