Topical Encyclopedia
Jerusalem, a city of profound historical and spiritual significance, served as a focal point during the Roman period, particularly under the rule of Herod the Great. Herod, appointed "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate, reigned from 37 to 4 BC and was known for his extensive building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple, which became known as Herod's Temple.
Herod the Great (37–4 BC): Herod was a client king of Judea under Roman authority. His reign was marked by political acumen and architectural ambition, but also by paranoia and brutality. Herod's rule is noted in the New Testament, particularly in the account of the Massacre of the Innocents, where he ordered the killing of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to eliminate the newborn "King of the Jews" (
Matthew 2:16).
Archelaus (4 BC–AD 6): After Herod's death, his kingdom was divided among his sons. Archelaus received Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. His rule was characterized by incompetence and cruelty, leading to his eventual deposition by the Romans. The Gospel of Matthew references Archelaus, noting that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus avoided Judea upon their return from Egypt due to his reign (
Matthew 2:22).
Pontius Pilate (AD 26–36): As the Roman prefect of Judea, Pilate is perhaps best known for his role in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Gospels describe Pilate as a reluctant participant in the execution, famously washing his hands to symbolize his claimed innocence in the matter (
Matthew 27:24). Pilate's governance was marked by tension with the Jewish population, often exacerbated by his insensitivity to their religious customs.
Herod Antipas (4 BC–AD 39): Although not a ruler of Jerusalem itself, Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, played a significant role in the New Testament narrative. He is known for his involvement in the execution of John the Baptist and his encounter with Jesus during the Passion (
Luke 23:7-12).
Herod Agrippa I (AD 41–44): Grandson of Herod the Great, Agrippa I was granted the title of king and ruled over a territory that included Judea. His reign is noted in the Acts of the Apostles, where he is depicted as a persecutor of the early Church, responsible for the execution of James, the brother of John, and the imprisonment of Peter (
Acts 12:1-3).
Herod Agrippa II (AD 50–c. 93): The last of the Herodian rulers, Agrippa II, played a role in the early Christian narrative, particularly in the trial of the Apostle Paul. Paul defended his faith before Agrippa, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, where Agrippa famously remarked, "In such a short time, are you persuading me to become a Christian?" (
Acts 26:28).
Throughout these periods, Jerusalem remained a city of great religious and political importance, often caught in the crosscurrents of Roman imperial interests and Jewish national aspirations. The Herodian dynasty, with its complex relationship with Rome, left a lasting impact on the city's history, setting the stage for the events that would unfold in the early Christian era.
Nave's Topical Index
Matthew 2:3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Nave's Topical Index
Library
The Roman Empire at the Time of the Birth of Christ. Upwards of a ...
... repressed by the presence of their powerful rulers, and the ... portion of the population
of the Roman Empire had ... three times in the year at Jerusalem to celebrate ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the roman empire.htm
The Acts of the Apostles.
... any work of Greek or Roman literature, and ... Christianity from Rome (the Christian
Jerusalem) to Wittenberg ... ton politon, praefectos civitatis, the rulers of the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 85 the acts of.htm
The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... may be the penalties which earthly rulers may annex ... was virtually the capital of
the Roman Empire in ... apostles were instructed to remain at Jerusalem for twelve ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm
The Life of Christ.
... Jerusalem was the centre of Jewish power and prejudice, and ... the laws of the empire
exempted every Roman citizen"and ... victim to the malice of the rulers of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the life of.htm
Paul Before Felix.
... the presence of the high-priest and the rulers of the ... according to both the Jewish
and the Roman law ... ought against me." He did not return to Jerusalem, after a ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxvii paul before felix.htm
The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
... 1) his encounters with the Jewish rulers at Jerusalem, (2 ... and afterwards the capital
of the Roman provinces in ... Barnabas and Saul were sent to Jerusalem to bear ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxix the historical books.htm
Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of ...
... least the most important court, had resided as a ... rare occasions, from the commonplaces
of Roman poetry, it ... all the attention that the Church's rulers could give ...
/.../introduction chapter i the life and.htm
Resources
What is the significance of the city of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgShould Jerusalem be the capital of modern-day Israel? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the daughters of Jerusalem in Song of Solomon? | GotQuestions.orgJerusalem: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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