Page 148 - Biblical Backgrounds

Roman Backgrounds in Acts and the Epistles.

Connect…

Rome, the empire of empires, in the time of Jesus and the early church. Like so many things, it was both
lovely and deadly. The same empire that boasted the magnificent Parthenon hosted barbaric games and
took delight in watching people die gruesome deaths. The same people who showed great favor to its
friends also showed fierce suppression to its enemies. The Jews came under Roman rule in the century
before Jesus was born. They continued under Roman rule for years. What is the Roman background to
Judea and the early church? Much of Roman culture, as it focuses on the missionary journeys, has been
explained already. In this section, we will focus on the Roman culture, as it relates to Israel and the
church during Acts and the Epistles.

The Lesson ...

Roman Backgrounds in Acts and
the Epistles

The extent of the Roman Empire
altered over time. Judea came under
its rule in 63 BC. The empire
continued to grow throughout the
first century. This map from the
Encyclopedia Britannica shows the
extent of the Roman Empire when
the Emperor Trajan died. 196 That was
the latest time that some think
Revelation was written. Most
conservative scholars believe
Revelation was written around 90AD.
The Roman Empire occupied what is
now Britain, Spain, France, Parts of
Germany, Turkey, Syria, Judea, and
much of Northern Africa.

The Roman Empire took over Judea, removed the Hasmonean rulers, and established Herod the Great
as the new King. That happened about 40 years before the birth of Jesus. There were various
government restructures in the Roman Empire and Judea during the 1 century AD.
st

196 Map. The extent of the Roman Empire. https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Empire

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