Biblical Concept: Roman Emperors
of New Testament Times
Augustus Caesar Also known as
Octavian, he ruled from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14.
Jesus Christ was born during his rule. Augustus is mentioned in Luke 2:1 as the Caesar who
ordered a census of the world. Jesus was
born in Bethlehem because of this census and it fulfilled the prophecy of Mica
5:2. He was a reformer who promoted constitutional rights and brought
prosperity.
Tiberius Caesar The adopted son of Augustus Caesar, he ruled from
A.D. 14 to 37. He was fifty-six years
old at the start of his leadership. Suspicion and cruelty marked his time. Luke
3:1-2 lists various rulers at the beginning of John the Baptist’s and Jesus’
public ministries--starting in the 15th year of Tiberius’ rule.
Caligula Also known as Gaius, he ruled from A.D. 37 to 41. The Senate chose him to succeed Tiberius. Profligate public spending aided his initial
popularity. Growing mental problems
(example: demand to be worshipped as a god) and cruel policies for replenishing
the depleted public treasury culminated with assassination by the Praetorian Guard.
Claudius The Praetorian Guard appointed him as leader. He suffered some form of paralysis that made
his appearance bumbling, but his mind was sharp. He ruled from A.D. 41 to 54. Acts 11:28 states that there would be a world
wide famine in the reign of
Claudius. Acts 18:2 mentions that
Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome.
Nero The adopted son of Claudius (a child of his fourth
wife, Agrippina), He ruled from A.D. 54 to 68.
His reign began well, but meddling Agrippina was murdered at his
command. He depleted the public treasury
and practiced various forms of confiscation to restore it. Perhaps he was behind a fire in the capital
that conveniently made room for an elaborate palace (Golden House). His administration blamed Christians for the
fire and a general persecution followed.
His grew unpopular with the military and eventually fled Rome and
ordered a servant to kill him rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. Church
tradition observes that Peter and Paul died as part of the persecution. Acts
25:10-12 records Paul’s appeal to Caesar—Nero.
The suffering cited by Peter, in 1 Peter 4:12-16, might have been
inspired by Nero’s state sponsored persecution?
Galba He was a commander of the Roman army in Spain. The Senate
placed him into power, but he quickly lost support for not being generous
enough with public funds. Senator Otho
plotted against him and convinced the Praetorian Guard to kill Galba and place
him in power. Galba ruled from A.D. 68 to 69.
Otho He was a Roman Senator placed into power by the
Praetorian Guard. Disputes over civilian leadership among the military lead
Vitellius, a general in German provinces, to march on Rome and they swiftly
defeated the defenders of Otho. Otho
took his own life, having lead from January through April of A.D. 69.
Vitellius He was the general of the Roman armies in the German
provinces. More divided opinions among
the military on civilian leadership lead troops in the eastern provinces to declare
Vespasian, their general, as Emperor. Vespasian cut off the food supplies to Rome
and his supporters in the city captured Rome and killed Vitellius. Vitellius
ruled from July through December of A.D. 69.
Vespasian He was age 60 at his ascension to power and ruled
from A.D. 69 through 79. He accomplished a restoration of order to the Senate,
the military, and the Praetorian Guard (limiting their size and number). He taxed
everything to replenish the treasury, built and refurbished many temples, and
started construction of the Colosseum.
Titus The son of Vespasian, a generous and popular emperor,
he ruled from A.D. 79 through 81. Various disasters occurred during his rule: a
severe fire in Rome, Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, and Rome’s worst plague
occurred. He died of a fever at age 42. Prior to being Emperor, his military
leadership included the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem and subjugation of Judea.
Domitian A son of Vespasian and a younger brother of Titus,
the Senate made him Emperor. On the one
hand, he was an efficient economic manager of the Empire. On the other, he was politically suspicious
and ruthless, to the point that his own family arranged for his assassination
(he was 45). He declared the divinity of his father, brother, wife, sisters,
and himself. He persecuted various religions, including Christians, that
refused him worship. He ruled from A.D.
81 through 96.
Nerva After the assassination of Domitian, the Senate chose
one of its own members as Emperor--66 year old Nerva. His short, harmless, benevolent rule, lasted from
A.D. 96 through 98.
Trajan Nerva, three months before his death, chose the able
military commander Trajan as his successor. Trajan administered the daily
affairs of government as a fiscal conservative. In contrast, however, the
tribute and booty from occupied foreign lands was lavishly spent on Rome and
her citizens. He lead the legions that expanded the empire to the Indian Ocean
in the east and died at age 64 on his way back to Rome. He ruled from A.D. 98 through 117.