Page 4 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

How to Read the Bible: The Gospels

1.3 Historical Background

As the New Testament opens, we find that Rome is in control of Palestine, the geographic cite of the
events read about in them. Rome was supposedly founded by Romulus in 753 BC who was its first king.
The little kingdom grew and gobbled up neighboring people through the reign of seven kings. Finally,
under the tyrannical rule of Tarquinius Superbus the people revolted and set up a republic where Roman
citizens had a voice in governmental affairs.
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Rome continued to extend its borders throughout all of Italy and much of the known world. Syria was
occupied under Pompey in 63 BC which marks the beginning of Palestine control. Under the watchful
eye of Rome, Herod the Great became governor of Judea but was also declared the high priest by Rome.
This did not go down well with the religious leaders of the Jews, the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Octavian became the head of the Roman Empire by defeating Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC. He ruled
under the title of Augustus, bringing a period of peace and prosperity to the empire until his death in 14
AD. It was during the reign of Augustus, just before the death of Herod the Great, that Jesus Christ was
born in about 1 BC. With the coming of Christ, the Old Testament era was concluded.

On behalf of Rome, Herod the Great was appointed ruler of Judea. His life, and the lives of His sons
were closely connected to the earthly life of the Messiah. According to Matthew, Herod ordered the
deaths of all male children near Bethlehem who were under the age of two (Matt. 2), an order that
forced Joseph and Mary to flee with Jesus to Egypt.

1 So That’s Why Bible, p. 1256.

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