Page 155 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Roman Emperors during the 1 Century
st
through about 120AD:

Thankfully, multiple Roman emperors are
named in the New Testament. This gives us
a great advantage in determining the date
range in which certain biblical events
occurred. For instance, the rule of Augustus
ended in 14 AD. He was said to be the
Roman emperor when Jesus was born in
Luke 2:1. So the birth of Jesus had to take
place before 14 AD. Other indicators help us
determine more closely when that event
happened, but this is helpful. Tiberius was
emperor when Jesus died on the cross. Caligula and Claudius were emperors when the early church was
rd
nd
beginning and during Paul’s 1 , 2 , and 3 missionary journey as well. Claudius is mentioned by name in
st
Acts 11:28. During Paul’s third missionary journey is when Nero came to power. Nero had Paul executed
and committed suicide in 68 AD. Peter is also said to have lived in Rome and been martyred there
between 63AD and 68AD. 206

Another reason to know the dates is that it helps us understand what was happening during the early
church period politically. Most are unaware that there was a change in the Roman emperor between
Acts 11:28 and Acts 25:11. They simply assume it is the same person. It was not the same man. The
emperor Paul appealed to, Nero, was so hated that his own people struck him from the record after his
death. That is who Paul was trying to get in front of. That Nero would have him killed. Nero was also the
emperor when Paul wrote to obey the governing authorities in Romans 13.

Dates Emperor Emperors in Scripture
31BC – 14AD Augustus Luke 2:1
14AC - 37AD Tiberius Mark 6:14-28; Luke 3:1
37AD - 41AD Caligula Not mentioned in Scripture
41AD – 54AD Claudius Acts 11:28
54AD – 68AD Nero Acts 25:11. Nero was emperor when Paul appealed his case
to Caesar in 57AD.
68AD – 69AD Galba Not mentioned in Scripture
69AD Otho Not mentioned in Scripture
69AD Aulus Vitellius Not mentioned in Scripture
69AD - 79AD Vespasian Not mentioned in Scripture
79AD – 81AD Titus Not mentioned in Scripture. Destroyed Jerusalem and the
temple in 70AD.
81AD – 96AD Domitian Emperor when Revelation was written most likely.
96AD – 98AD Nerva Not mentioned in Scripture
98AD -138AD Trajan Not mentioned in Scripture
117AD – 138AD Hadrian Not mentioned in Scripture

206 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Peter-the-Apostle/Tradition-of-Peter-in-Rome

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