Page 158 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

used for public spectacles, executions,
political theater, and other events.
The structures seen beneath the floor
were covered by a floor at the time.
The animals, gladiators, criminals, and
Christians would be led through
different tunnels and lifted into the
arena by various elevators.

These elevators have been duplicated
in theory, but as none survive to be
sure, it is only the best guess of
modern archeologists as to whether
they are accurate. Regardless, the
persecution of Christians during the
time of the apostles was very real.
Paul continually warned Christians
that they would face persecution for standing for Christ. Christianity does not allow for others to claim
the ultimate allegiance of its followers.

Worship of the Emperor
Reverence for rules or emperors did not begin in Rome. In fact, the Romans were rather late in
accepting such a practice. While they revered the spirits of their dead ancestors, they regarded their
political leaders as mere men.
The worship of living rulers was practiced in many nations, including Egypt, Persia, and Greece.
Alexander the Great established his own cult of worshipers in Alexandria in Egypt.
Augustus Caesar was the first Roman emperor to combine the ideas of ruler worship and ancestor
worship in creating an imperial cult. He made it a sign of his subjects loyal to him and the Roman state.
He did, however, exempt the Jews from his cult.
Caligula (A.D. 37-41), who was known for being somewhat unbalanced, proclaimed himself a god and
loved to dress up as Jupiter. In 40 A.D., he even ordered that a statue of himself as Jupiter be erected in
the temple in Jerusalem. Faced with a likely revolt by the Jewish populace, the Roman governor
Petronius managed to get the order canceled.
It is surprising that Herod Agrippa I (41-44 A.D.), just a few years after the incident with Caligula, would
allow himself to be worshiped as a god (Acts. 12:20-23). According to Acts, his failure to discourage the
shouts of the people, “The voice of a god and not a man!” and give glory to God resulted in his violent
death as worms ate up his body. The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that Agrippa died five days
after an attack of abdominal pains. 210
The Romans believed in many gods and tolerated those who believed in other gods, as long as they also
st
worshiped the Emperor as a god. In the 1 Century, the unwillingness of the early Christians to declare
the emperor a god resulted in great persecution and martyrdom.

210 So That’s Why Bible, Thomas Nelson Publications, p. 1483.

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