Derek Morris -Palestine During Inter-Testament Times
Summary
TLDRThis presentation offers a historical and cultural backdrop to the life and teachings of Jesus, focusing on the period between the Old and New Testaments. It outlines the struggle of Judaism amidst the rise and fall of Greek influence, particularly under Alexander the Great and subsequent Hellenistic rule. The lecture details the transition of power in Palestine, from the Ptolemaic to Seleucid control, leading to the Maccabean Revolt and the fight for Jewish independence. It further explores the reign of Herod the Great, his contributions and his tyrannical rule, including his infamous act of ordering the massacre of infants in Bethlehem. The narrative proceeds to the Roman rule, highlighting key figures like Pontius Pilate and the political complexities of the era. The summary underscores the significance of understanding this historical context to grasp the challenges faced by Jesus and the cultural dynamics of his time.
Takeaways
- 🙏 The presentation begins with a prayer for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus within the historical context of Palestine during the intertestamental period.
- 🏛 Judaism faced significant challenges for survival during this time, struggling against not only military threats but also the cultural influence of Hellenism.
- 🌐 Major shifts in power occurred after the death of Alexander the Great, leading to a struggle for control over Palestine among his generals and the eventual division of his empire.
- 📜 The translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, was a result of Greek cultural influence on Judaism during the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.
- ⚔️ The Maccabean Rebellion, led by Judas Maccabeus, was a response to the persecution of the Jewish people and the desecration of the temple by the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- 🏟️ Herod the Great, a key figure in the gospel narratives, was known for his architectural achievements, including the expansion of the temple in Jerusalem, despite his violent and oppressive rule.
- 👑 Herod's rule and the subsequent rule of his sons, including Herod Antipas, are significant for understanding the political landscape during Jesus' life and ministry.
- 🦊 Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as 'that fox,' highlighting the ruler's cunning and deceitful nature, which played a role in the events leading to John the Baptist's execution.
- 🏛️ The Roman procurators, such as Pontius Pilate, held significant power in the region, including authority over capital punishment, which had critical implications for Jesus' trial and crucifixion.
- ⚖️ Pontius Pilate's decision-making during Jesus' trial reflects a complex interplay of political, religious, and personal factors, ultimately leading to a tragic outcome.
- 📚 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and cultural backdrop of the New Testament to grasp the significance of Jesus' life and mission.
Q & A
What is the time period being discussed in the presentation?
-The presentation discusses the period between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament, specifically from around the 4th Century BC to the start of the Christian era.
What was the primary challenge faced by Judaism during the time between the Testaments?
-Judaism was struggling for survival, being attacked not just by military power but also by foreign cultures, particularly Greek culture.
Who was Alexander the Great and what was his impact on Palestine?
-Alexander the Great was a Macedonian king who created a massive Hellenistic Empire after conquering the Greek city-states. His empire extended to the borders of India, and he spread Greek culture, making it the common language and influence across the conquered regions, including Palestine.
What was the significance of the Ptolemy and Seleucid dynasties in the context of Palestine?
-The Ptolemy and Seleucid dynasties were established by generals of Alexander the Great. They divided the Greek Empire after his death, with Ptolemy ruling Egypt and Seleucus ruling Syria. Palestine fell under the control of these dynasties, first under the Ptolemies and later under the Seleucids, which significantly influenced the cultural and political landscape of the region.
What event marked the beginning of the Maccabean Rebellion?
-The Maccabean Rebellion began with the Modin incident in 167 BC, when the aged Jewish priest Mattathias killed a representative of the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was enforcing laws to eradicate Jewish culture and religion.
Who was Herod the Great and how did he rise to power?
-Herod the Great was the son of Antipater the First, who governed under Roman rule. Herod was appointed as a governor in Galilee by his father and later became the King of Judea in 40 BC due to his effective governance and favor with the Romans.
What was the role of Pontius Pilate during the time of Jesus?
-Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator during the ministry of Jesus. He was responsible for collecting taxes for Rome, maintaining law and order, and had judicial powers, including decisions involving the death penalty.
Why did the Jewish leaders request Roman rule in 63 BC?
-The Jewish leaders requested Roman rule because the Romans were known to respect the religion and culture of the areas they governed, as long as there was stability. They preferred Roman oversight to the possibility of being under a hostile force that would not respect their religion.
What was the significance of the Septuagint in the context of the Greek influence on Judaism?
-The Septuagint was a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. It was a result of the influence of Greek culture on Judaism during the time when Palestine was governed by the Ptolemaic dynasty, reflecting the cultural exchange and the adaptation of Jewish religious texts to the lingua franca of the Hellenistic world.
How did Herod the Great's building projects reflect his rule?
-Herod the Great was known as a great builder. He constructed massive projects such as an aqueduct from the north to Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea and significantly refurbished the temple in Jerusalem. These building projects demonstrated his power and the prosperity under his rule, despite his reputation for being a man of blood.
What were the key responsibilities of the Roman procurator?
-The Roman procurator had three major responsibilities: collecting taxes for Rome, maintaining law and order through an army under his control, and having judicial powers, particularly over legal decisions involving the death penalty.
Outlines
🙏 Opening Prayer and Introduction to Palestine's Historical Context
The video begins with a prayer for understanding the situation in Palestine during the intertestamental period, between the Old and New Testaments. The lecturer seeks guidance to teach and learn about the cultural challenges and trends of the time. The main theme is the struggle for survival of Judaism amidst the influence of Greek culture, particularly through the conquests of Alexander the Great, which spread Hellenism far and wide. The lecture aims to provide an overview from the 4th Century BC to the start of the Christian era, emphasizing the impact of Greek culture on Judaism and the rise of Hellenistic influence.
🌟 The Rise and Struggle of Greek Influence in Palestine
This paragraph delves into the historical context of Palestine under the influence of Greek leaders. It discusses the division of Alexander the Great's empire after his death, leading to a struggle for control over Palestine. The region first fell under the control of Ptolemy, a Greek general who established a dynasty in Egypt and brought Palestine under his domain. This period saw a positive relationship between Egypt and Palestine, culminating in the translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint. However, this relationship soured when Antiochus the Great, another of Alexander's generals and king of Syria, seized control of Palestine in 198 BC, marking the beginning of a period of hardship and persecution for the Jewish people.
🏛️ The Maccabean Rebellion and Jewish Independence
The paragraph describes the oppressive rule of Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus, who sought to eradicate Judaism and replace it with Greek culture. In 168 BC, he desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and issued an edict prohibiting Jewish worship, Sabbath observance, and scripture reading. This led to the Maccabean Rebellion, initiated by Mattathias and his sons, the most notable being Judas Maccabeus. The rebellion culminated in the restoration of Jewish independence and temple worship in 165 BC, after the Syrian forces were ousted from Palestine.
🕍 Herod the Great and the End of Jewish Independence
The focus shifts to Herod the Great, a key figure in the gospel record, who was neither Roman nor Jewish but rose to power under Roman rule. His father, Antipater, governed under Roman rule, and Herod was appointed King of Judea in 40 BC after proving himself as a capable governor in Galilee. Despite marrying a Jewish princess to gain favor with the Jews, Herod was known as a great builder rather than a great ruler, having refurbished the temple in Jerusalem. However, his reign was also marked by violence, including the killing of the children in Bethlehem. The paragraph also mentions the end of Jewish independence in 63 BC when Jewish leaders requested Roman rule, preferring it to the potential for another hostile force that would not respect their religion.
🏗️ Building Projects and the Legacy of Herod the Great
This section highlights Herod the Great's accomplishments as a builder, including the construction of a massive aqueduct and the refurbishment of the temple in Jerusalem, which became known as Herod's Temple. Despite his contributions to architecture, Herod's rule was also characterized by violence and the elimination of threats, even within his own family. His death in 3 BC preceded the rise of his sons to various positions of power, some of whom would play significant roles in the events of the gospels.
🦊 Herod Antipas and the Rule of Rome in Palestine
The paragraph discusses the rule of Herod Antipas, one of Herod the Great's sons, who governed over Galilee and had significant contact with Jesus. It also touches upon the governance of Philip, another son, and Archelaus, who was eventually removed by the Romans due to his poor leadership. The section concludes with the establishment of Roman rule, specifically under a Roman official following the removal of Archelaus. This sets the stage for understanding the political landscape during the time of Jesus' ministry.
🏛️ The Roman Pro-Curators and Their Role in Palestine
The paragraph outlines the responsibilities of the Roman pro-curators in Palestine, focusing on their role in tax collection, maintaining law and order, and possessing judicial powers, particularly over capital cases. It emphasizes the importance of the Roman pro-curator's authority in legal decisions involving the death penalty, which is crucial to the narrative of Jesus' trial. The section also introduces Pontius Pilate as the Roman pro-curator during Jesus' ministry, noting his inflexible nature and the challenges his leadership presented.
🤲 Pontius Pilate's Interaction with Jesus and the Jewish Leaders
This section discusses the character of Pontius Pilate, highlighting his lack of understanding of the Jewish people, his hasty actions that stirred up opposition, and his ultimate weakness when faced with pressure. It describes the trial of Jesus, where Pilate initially finds no fault in Jesus but eventually succumbs to the demands of the Jewish leaders, leading to Jesus' flogging and crucifixion. Pilate's wife's warning dream and her message to have nothing to do with Jesus are also mentioned, underscoring the tragic mishandling of Jesus' case by Pilate.
📜 Closing Prayer and Invitation for Further Spiritual Messages
The video concludes with a prayer for understanding and clarity regarding the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing both the forces for good and evil at work during this historical period. The prayer seeks insight into Jesus' mission and its significance for each individual. The video is presented by American Cassette Ministries, which offers spiritual messages and invites viewers to explore their catalog and support their ministry.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Palestine
💡Hellenism
💡Jewish Independence
💡Herod the Great
💡Pontius Pilate
💡Maccabean Rebellion
💡Ptolemy
💡Seleucid Empire
💡Septuagint
💡Antiochus IV Epiphanes
💡Roman Procurator
Highlights
The lecture provides a historical context for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus during the intertestamental period.
Judaism was under attack not just by military power but also by cultural influences, particularly from Greek culture.
The rise and fall of Alexander the Great and the establishment of Hellenistic culture had a profound impact on Palestine.
The struggle for control over Palestine after Alexander's death led to a division of his empire and significant changes in the region's governance.
Ptolemy, a Greek general, established a dynasty in Egypt and brought Palestine under his control, influencing the culture and religion of the region.
The translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, was a result of Greek cultural influence on Judaism.
Antiochus the Great, a Syrian king, seized control of Palestine from the Egyptian rulers, leading to a period of persecution for the Jewish people.
The Maccabean Rebellion, led by Judas Maccabeus, was a response to the attempts to eradicate Judaism and establish Greek cultural dominance.
The Maccabean Rebellion resulted in the restoration of Jewish independence and the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.
Herod the Great, a non-Jewish, non-Roman ruler, was known for his building projects, including the refurbishment of the temple in Jerusalem.
Herod the Great's rule was marked by both significant architectural achievements and acts of violence, including the killing of innocents in Bethlehem.
The Roman Empire's influence in Palestine began with Pompey's conquest in 63 BC and continued through various rulers and procurators.
Pontius Pilate, as Roman procurator, had significant authority, including the power to make legal decisions involving the death penalty.
The trial and crucifixion of Jesus were influenced by the political and cultural tensions of the time, including the interactions between Jewish leaders and Roman authorities.
The lecture explores the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and political factors that shaped the world in which Jesus lived and taught.
The presentation concludes with a prayer for understanding not just the historical context, but also the personal significance of Jesus' mission.
Transcripts
let's pray as we begin this presentation
Heavenly Father
today as we consider the
situation in Palestine during the into
Testament times
between the end of the Old Testament and
the beginning of the New Testament
period
so that we can understand more fully the
life and the teachings of Jesus I pray
that you'd help me to teach clearly help
us to understand the Trends and the
basic issues that we're challenging the
culture and then as we come to read
scripture may we be able to understand
more clearly what's happening and most
of all what you want us to learn for our
lives today
in Jesus name amen
well this is lecture four and it's
entitled Palestine during into Testament
times
and I want to just give you a broad
overview of what's Happening after the
end of Old Testament Prophet speaking
around the 4th Century BC until the time
of the beginning of the Christian era
but if I were to summarize in one
sentence and it would be a sentence that
you would do well to to take note of
I would say that during these uh times
between the Testaments that Judaism is
struggling for survival
Judaism is being
attacked not just
by military power but by culture
particularly Greek culture
and Judaism is struggling
for survival
as we begin looking at this topic of
Palestine during this new testament time
I'd like to begin major section one by
looking at the coming of Greece
now many of you I'm sure have studied in
world history about Greece
but I want to just look specifically at
how it affects Palestine okay so major
section A Alexander the Great
having crushed the Greek city-states
in the year 338 BC a date that you don't
need to remember but just kind of
framing things for us
Philip of Macedonia gave to his son
Alexander a United Hellenistic or
Hellenic Kingdom
now what is important to know is that
Alexander given this United Kingdom
didn't just sit around and say well
great I can be king now but he went on a
journey of Conquest
starting at this time
and taking him all the way to the
borders of India in the year 326
BC
he established a massive Empire and
we'll discover that that Empire was not
only a political Empire but it was a
cultural Empire
Greek culture which is referred to as
Hellenism
and as he established this massive
Empire
Greek became the common language
and Greek culture with its Adoration of
the human form
and the games
permeated the rest of the cultures that
that it contacted
unfortunately even though Alexander the
Great had a meteoric rise to power
in the year eight 323 BC he died
at age 33. so just a short period of
about 15 years he establishes a massive
Greek Empire but then dies
without a successor
the result of that uh dilemma with with
the death of Alexander the Great is a
struggle for control
in Palestine
we're talking now specifically how all
of this affected Palestine so section V
the struggle for Palestine
because with no successor
some of Alexander the Great generals
jockey for power and eventually the
Greek Empire is divided up into various
sections
Palestine first fell under the control
of a Greek General by the name of
potolami
potomy when the Greek Empire was kind of
carved up
established himself as the ruler of
Egypt
now remember the Ptolemy is not an
Egyptian
what's his cultural background
he's Greek right
but he's establishing his dynasty in
Egypt and Egypt was an important
location as the empire was divided up
now just north of Egypt if you know your
geography around the Mediterranean there
is Palestine and so Ptolemy when he
established his dynasty one of the Greek
generals established his dynasty in
Egypt he took Palestine with his domain
and for about a hundred years and we're
just talking in general terms here
Palestine was governed by its Egyptian
Lords
during this time there was a fairly um
what's the word positive relationship
between Egypt and Palestine many Jews in
fact relocated in Egypt it was during
this time as I mentioned that the Hebrew
scriptures were translated into Greek
not just because they said well we want
to share the scriptures with the world
but Greek culture was influencing
Judaism
and the Septuagint was the result of
that translation
however unfortunately that kind of
pleasant relationship even though they
were being ruled by someone did not
continue
in the year
198 BC
let me give you one other general's name
a man by the name of seleucus before I
give you the date
seleucus another of Alexander the
Great's generals when they carved up the
Empire he became the king
of Syria that was his dynasty
he said I'm going to govern this area
now again if you know your geography
between Syria and the North and Egypt in
the south is
Palestine
and so Lucas governed as king of Syria
and established his dynasty there and it
was one of his descendants
a man by the name of Antiochus the third
or Antiochus the great who in the year
198 BC this is about 100 years later
he's king of Syria Antiochus the Great
sends his army South
and seizes control of Palestine from the
Egyptian Lords to the South
you can imagine the geography of the
region here the Mediterranean and here's
Syria in the North
and here's Egypt in the south
and here's Palestine caught between them
after Alexander dies
says I'm going to govern this area
establishes his dynasty and says
Palestine will be with me for about a
hundred years that's how things rest in
a fairly workable relationship
but 100 years later 198 BC descendant of
seleucus one of the kings of Syria
Antiochus the great says no we want
Palestine to be with us since his army
South and seizes control of Palestine
key point with the shift from being
under the governance of Egypt or the
Egyptian Lords to now being under Syria
a time of persecution a time of hardship
begins
for the Jewish people in Palestine
which brings us to Major section two
which I've entitled
Jewish Independence
Jewish Independence
because a descendant of Antiochus the
great who is the descendant of Salukis
so one of the dynasties set up there by
this Greek General seleucus in Syria
a descendant of Antiochus the great was
a man by the name of Antiochus
epiphanies
some of you may even have heard of that
name if you've studied about the
maccabean Rebellion
he was actually the son of Antiochus the
great a man named Antiochus epiphanes
king of Syria from 175 to 163 BC
and you don't need to remember those
dates but again you see we're moving
closer to the time of Christ right
Antiochus epiphanies
had a very specific goal
and that is to obliterate Judaism
the cultural and religious identity of
Judaism obliterated
what does he want to replace it with
well again he's not he's not Syrian is
he what what's his background
Greek and so Hellenistic culture
Hellenism Greek culture to replace
Judaism with Greek culture with the
games and with the Adoration of the
human form
and with the pantheon of Gods
the Greek gods of course
and so
in the year 168 BC
he sends his army South
to Jerusalem
and he desecrates the temple
he builds an altar to Zeus
and sacrifices a pig
in the temple of God
it is a direct Challenge and a
desecration of Judaism
not only does he desecrate the temple
but he passes an edict
and I'd like you to notice what that law
said
he said
that there must be no worship of the of
the god of Heaven the god of the Jews
there must be no Sabbath observance
no reading of the scriptures
and of course no worship of the of of
the Lord in the temple
most of the male inhabitants of
Jerusalem were killed though a few fled
Into the Wilderness under the leadership
of a man by the name of Judas Maccabees
a name some of you may have heard so law
passed no Sabbath no worship of the true
God no reading of the scripture what
does he want to do to Judaism
destroy it eradicate Judaism and replace
it with Greek culture
but not all of the Jewish males were
killed some fled Into the Wilderness
and an event takes place
in a little Community called modin
m-o-d-i-n
referred to as the modin incident
167 BC
again not a date that you need to
remember but you see how time is
unfolding a year earlier desecration of
the Temple
law passed no more reading of scripture
the year 167 BC
Antiochus epiphanes king of Syria
descendant of seleucus the Greek General
Antiochus Epiphany sends a
representative the king's representative
to make sure that this law edict is
being enforced
and in the village of modin
this representative was killed by an
aged Jewish priest
an aged Jewish priest
by the name of matathias
now many of you may not have heard of
Mata theist but you have heard of his
son perhaps
Judas
Maccabees
Maccabee means Hammer his name was Judas
the hammer and that said something about
his opposition to
the desecration that had happened
but Matthias father of Judas Maccabees
kills this representative from the king
of Syria and says I'd like you to notice
and maybe you want to write it down what
he says
let everyone who is zealous for the law
let everyone who is zealous for the law
what law do you think that is
God's law that's right the Torah the
sacred word of God let everyone who is
zealous for the law come out with me
what's he calling for
Rebellion he's calling for a an uprising
and with that call Begins the what we
refer to as the war of Jewish
Independence the maccabean Rebellion
which went from 167
to 165 BC
led by the son of matathias Judas
Maccabees
and finally
in 165 the Syrian forces are ousted from
Palestine Temple worship is restored
now I'm going to hyperspace from that
time
and and move on and just give you one
piece of information at the end and
maybe we we could uh just take a note of
this because we don't have time to focus
in detail on what happens after 165 but
but even though Jewish Independence is
established again in 165
one more day to write down before we
move on to the reign of Herod in the
year 63 BC
still now being governed uh
self-governed Syria is gone
Egypt's no longer in control
in the year 63 BC
Jewish Independence ended
but now not by force at least it seemed
the Jewish leaders requested Roman rule
I said why if they were willing to shed
their blood to get rid of the syrians
would they ask the Romans to come and
oversee them in 63 BC and the answer is
simple
at least we'll try to make it simple
the Romans respected the the religion of
the areas that they governed they didn't
try to obliterate the culture and the
religion of the areas they govern as
long as things were under control they
were happy
and perhaps the Jewish leaders felt it
would be better to be under Rome than
under some other hostile force that
would not respect their religion so even
though they struggled for power and
overthrew through the Syrian overlords
in 165
a hundred years later they asked the
Romans to come and oversee them and of
course that's an important part of the
puzzle as we look at the life of Jesus
because we see Roman soldiers walking
around right and centurions and Roman
Pro curators and you say where did they
come from answer they are connected now
from 63 BC
well that's a brief overview of the
Greek influence but we need to move on
section three and talk about another key
individual that emerges in the gospel
record by the name of Herod the Great
and I've entitled section three
herod's rule
because as you read the gospel record
you come across this individual
and you might say well who is he is he a
Roman is he Jewish
and the answer is he is neither Roman
nor Jewish
section a herod's rise to power
herod's father was a man by the name of
antipater the first
and he governed Under the Umbrella of
Roman rule
after Rome had taken control of
Palestine
and he was able to get his sons also
involved in leadership
in fact in the year 47 BC he arranged
for one of his sons a man by the name of
Herod to become a governor in Galilee
and Herod did such a good job
governing that region for Rome that in
the year 40 BC
Herod was appointed
as King of Judea
this is the Herod that will be referred
to as Herod the Great
son of antipater given a position as a
governor in Galilee which was kind of a
remote region to the north
a lot of trouble there a lot of Bandits
and Insurrection did such a good job
that he was appointed by the Romans as a
King of Judea now remember he's not
Roman and actually he's not even Jewish
he was from a region to the South called
idumia
and we'll give you a map
on another day but you can look on a map
it's to the South it's where the
descendants of Esau had settled
he was from edumia so he was not loved
by the Jews or by the Romans but he
somehow was able to gain favor with them
and was appointed as a King of Judea in
40 BC
he married a Jewish
princess a hasmanian princess to try to
gain favor with the Jews but was called
Herod the Great
not because he was such a great ruler
but he was a great Builder
I had the opportunity to go and see a
massive Aqueduct that Herod the Great
had built from the north running right
along the Mediterranean Sea to caesarea
which was a settlement during the time
of Jesus on the Mediterranean Coast Is
Still Standing it's incredible
he also totally refurbished the temple
in Jerusalem Herod did and that's why
during that time was referred to as
herod's Temple not his Temple it was the
Temple of the Lord but he refurbished it
so he was a great Builder but
unfortunately Herod was also a man of
blood
if you read the historical record he
would kill his own relatives if he felt
that they were a threat to him
and it was this Herod who also killed
who
all of the children
in Bethlehem remember that
he was the Herod that the wise men came
to and said where's this King and here
it's like a king
hmm bring back news that I may go and
worship him too
no
no intention of worshiping him later
when he finds out that the these Mage I
have left by another route he has all of
the children in Bethlehem killed
two years and younger he doesn't want to
miss this male child
so he was a man of blood
not a great ruler but certainly a great
Builder
that we can pinpoint fairly accurately
here it dies in the year
3 BC
and herod's Sons
before his death he manages to get them
in positions of leadership and I'd like
to share a little about his sons by the
way I just mentioned something in
passing which to some of you raises a
huge question and that is if Herod the
Great died in 3 BC how in the world did
he try to kill Jesus if Jesus was born
in the year 180
um and we'll answer that question in
lecture seven but we're pretty accurate
we don't know when the year sometime
between 4 BC and 3 BC here are the great
dice before his death though he manages
to secure some positions of leadership
for several of his sons and I mentioned
these because they appear in the gospel
record
one of them uh was a man named Philip
and Philip became a governor of the
region Northeast of the Sea of Galilee
the area where caesarea Philippi was
built you say ah built in honor of the
Caesar and in honor of Philip that's
right caesarea Philippi north east of
the Sea of Galilee if you're familiar
with Palestine River Jordan
Sea of Galilee Dead Sea
and this region Northeast of the Sea of
Galilee Philip governed that region and
from what we can tell he was a a good
ruler and had no confrontation with
Jesus during the ministry of Jesus
not mentioned extensively
a much more famous or should I say
infamous ruler son of Herod the Great
was a son by the name of Herod Antipas
Herod Antipas
and he was a governor of Galilee
hence his extensive contact with Jesus
who was raised in Nazareth and was
present during the trial of Jesus
and also of a region on the east side of
the Jordan River called paria
we'll talk about some of those in
another lecture
but he is most famous or inFAMOUS
before he
actually his problems began when he got
involved in a an adulterous relationship
with his brother's wife
with a an evil woman
by the name of herodias gets a little
confusing Herod the Great son here at
Antipas adulterous relationship with
herodias
his brother's wife and in fact it was as
a result of that adulterous relationship
John rebuked Herod antipath said it's
not right for you to be with your
brother's wife that he was put in prison
and will discover in lecture six uh how
the plan is made for his death and it
was not here at Antipas who wanted John
dead
Jesus refers to Herod Antipas as
that Fox
and during the trial of Jesus
Jesus has no word to speak to Herod and
to pass
it's interesting that Jesus always
has something to say to a person whose
Heart is Open tax collector Rebel
prostitute
but no word for Herod and to pass
a third son of Herod the Great
little known mentioned from what I can
tell only one time in the scripture in
the Book of Matthew
a man by the name of arch Elias
he's mentioned when if you remember the
story some of you may have read Matthew
that after Egypt they're on their way
back and Joseph and Mary plan to settle
in Bethlehem in Judea and Angel warnsman
says no don't go there because archeles
should give us a clue as to how well he
was doing arcules is there and so they
go North to Nazareth which is in the
region of Galilee where his brother was
governing
arcules began
his governance
uh in 4 BC
and by 86 about 10 years later he was
doing such a poor job he had massacred
the Jews he had obviously not read the
book How to Win Friends and Influence
People and by 86 the Romans remember the
Romans don't really mind who the puppet
rulers are as long as what is going on
there
stability right it's only things are
stable well things have become so
unstable and Oculus you want to write
down was ruling over Judea well that's
that's the way Jerusalem is that's a
primary area for Palestine he's ruling
over Judea he's ruling over Samaria
and he's ruling over that region where
his family was from idumia to the South
but particularly Judea where Jerusalem
is things are so unstable that in the
year 86
uh the Romans removed him for power from
power and he is banished to Gaul g-a-u-l
modern France sent on a permanent
vacation your one-way ticket
you know you won a ticket one way to
goal and that's the last we hear of
archelaus so they felt it was time to
move him out of the way and they
replaced him with a Roman official which
we'll talk about in the
final section here they replaced him
with a Roman official you say well I'm
starting to understand that we've got
these Romans and we've got the
Greek influence and and we've got these
people like Herod who are they they're
not Roman or Greek or Jewish
but while Philip is governing during the
time of Jesus ministry
in the northeast of Galilee Herod add to
pass his governing over Galilee in Korea
arcules by the time of the ministry of
Jesus has disappeared though he was
there during the time when Jesus was
born he's disappeared and has been
replaced by a Roman official
which brings us
to the final section
section four
which I've entitled the rule
of Rome
the rule
of Rome
hopefully now as we begin to look at the
gospel record
we'll see
some names that will recognize
and will understand why these various
political presences are there
you'll remember that Rome has taken
control of Palestine the year 63 BC when
the Roman general Pompeii comes
but most important to us
as we study the life of Jesus is to talk
about this special ruler
called a Roman procurator
not only is the Roman Emperor over the
area but there is a specific Roman
pro-curator
who is governing the region once
governed by who
by arcadeus and that's where Jerusalem
is so we're going to see this Roman
governor in this region where we're not
seeing him in other parts of Palestine
let me tell you what the Roman
pro-curator's responsibilities were and
you'll want to be acquainted with these
three major responsibilities and then in
closing we'll talk about the individual
who was the Roman pro-curator during the
ministry of Jesus and many of you
already know his name
so here are three major responsibilities
you'll want to note down under Section A
Roman procurator
firstly the Roman procurator was
responsible for collecting the Roman
taxes
now they were both the taxes which was
sent for to the emperor back to Rome and
though also the local excise or Customs
taxes and there were Tax Collectors that
were contracted to do the local Customs
taxes and you know some of those people
like Matthew and Zacchaeus but the the
tax that was sent back to the to Rome
was collected the responsibility of the
Roman procurator that was one of his he
was the revenue agent if you will direct
taxes for Rome collected and sent back
to Rome
secondly
and this we've talked about a little
he was responsible for maintaining Law
and Order
something that if the puppet ruler
whether his name was here the greater a
son here at antipast or whoever if if
they didn't maintain stability someone
else from Rome came in and they were
supposed to do that okay so he was
responsible to keep things stable and he
did that through having an army under
his control
now we hear of Roman soldiers but most
of the army were indigenous people we
learned most of them were Samaritans
but they were local people from
Palestine but the
the what would we call them the offices
over them were Romans
in fact they would have an officer over
a hundred men and that Roman official
was called a
Centurion okay so the whole Army I don't
know what you your thoughts were growing
up I guess I always imagine they were
all Romans but the key officials are
Romans the centurions overseeing the
rest of the local soldiers are Romans so
the centurions would would oversee and
make sure things stayed
in hand
obviously those local soldiers were not
well respected either they were viewed
probably as traitors
thirdly what have we got so far
collecting the taxes for Rome secondly
maintaining Law and Order
thirdly and this one is very important
the Roman procurator had judicial powers
let me put that simply make making legal
decisions
third responsibility making legal
decisions
key Point underline it somehow that
involved the death penalty
I mean qualify that because you'll see
this tomorrow
you'll see it another time when we're
reviewing this material the Roman Pro
curator did not have to make all legal
decisions there was a ruling body of the
Jews called
the Sanhedrin right familiar with the
Sanhedrin 70 Jewish leaders and they
made all of the decisions religious
decisions and even civil decisions but
they could not make illegal decision
that involved the death penalty
that is why even though the Sanhedrin
during the trial of Jesus wanted him to
be executed they had to go and disturb
the Roman procurator even during the
night and try to get his support because
you say well they've killed other people
didn't they stoned Stephen and they did
all kinds of things but Jesus was such a
pivotal leader that to have bypassed the
authority of the Roman procurator would
have been considered direct Rebellion
against Rome they knew that they knew
they had to get the Roman proteators
approval
because the Roman pro-curator key Point
had
legal authority over decisions involving
the death penalty
section B last section
as we're talking about this Roman
procurator you're saying I know who that
is during the ministry of Jesus and
there were several Pro curators from 86
on during the early life of Jesus but at
the time when Jesus is involved in his
public Ministry
Section 3
[Music]
we have a Roman procurator in power by
the name of
governing over Judea
Samaria edumia that region where
archeles had once had control
Pontius Pilate
according to Philo the historian
was of nature inflexible and owing to
stubbornness harsh
Josephus also agrees that
pilate was a cantankerous man
and I want to suggest to you several
faults that he had which would become
crucially important as we look at the
trial of Jesus number one
he did not understand the Jews
he's a Roman put in there on assignment
he doesn't understand the Jews
secondly he is very
Hasty in stirring up Prejudice he just
seems to be not very wise about that
he's very Hasty in stirring up
opposition and there's an example which
I want to share with you
on one occasion he ordered the Roman
soldiers to take the standard the flag
bearing the emperor's emblem into
Jerusalem well there was no requirement
that that should be done Jerusalem was
considered the holy city the emperor was
worshiped as a God so to take this into
Jerusalem was to desecrate the holy city
the Jews opposed that they pled they got
in the way they said we we please don't
do that and he was a cantankerous man
and said no out of the way or I'll have
you all killed
there were other times he had killed
people they beared their necks and said
we would rather die than see the holy
city
Dishonored
and he backed down
and they learned something
in that situation as I'm sure they did
in other situations that while he didn't
understand them and he was kind of quick
to stir up their prejudice
that thirdly number three he was
ultimately a weak
individual
that he would
give in
under pressure
that if they pushed him hard enough
he would yield to their demand
and we see it during the trial of Jesus
Jesus is brought to Pilate
they have three accusations so he uh
stirs up the people Jesus
is accused of that pilate dismisses that
he knows it's not true
he uh opposes paying taxes to Caesar
pilate dismisses that he knows it's not
true Jesus had said give to Caesar what
belongs to Caesar right
and then the third accusation he says he
is a king
so pilate comes to Jesus and he says are
you a king and Jesus says yes
and pilate's like
it's no problem I mean they don't have a
problem with people saying they're kings
as long as there's stability right
so in that interview that Jesus has with
pilate pilate concludes I find no fault
in him
famous words
what should pilate have done at that
moment
yeah
by the way he knows what are they why
have they brought Jesus to him what do
they want
they want approval to execute him they
want the Roman procurator to say okay
you can kill him
and and pilate says I find no foe with
him
and they begin to complain
pilate should have released him at that
moment they say well he started trouble
all the way from Galilee and and pilate
goes Galilee that's not my
responsibility who's in charge of
Galilee
well one of Herod the Great sons right
by the name of Herod Antipas he says
well and here at an Antipas happened to
be in Jerusalem at the time because it
was passive he says well send him over
to Herod and to pass he didn't need to
do that he could have just said no he's
no fault let him go
but he passes the responsibility over to
Herod Antipas
Jesus has nothing to say to Herod Herod
finally shows his true character begins
to mock Jesus and revile him and then
because he can't do anything sends Jesus
back
to Pilot and here pilate makes a crucial
mistake
he has Jesus flogged
now if you know anything about the this
form of punishment which oftentimes
could be fatal
it was a short whip
you know the details of the flagellum as
it was called with with the leather and
pieces of bone or stone and and it would
literally take a person apart
when they were whipped with this with
the short whip a Roman citizen was never
to be beaten with with this whip the
flag
they were beaten with rods but not with
this whip
now you say wait a minute I thought you
just told us that pilate had said I find
what
no fault in him so what is he doing why
is he having Jesus flogged
to somehow appease or pacify the crowd
he says well they want a little blood
and we'll we'll give them a little blood
even though he's innocent maybe that
will satisfy them
he fails to understand
because the Jewish leaders say well if
he will flog an innocent man
maybe if we keep pushing him he will
kill an innocent man and so Pilot's in a
very difficult situation now and and he
thinks to himself well maybe I mean this
man's innocent is obvious and I flogged
him he probably shouldn't have done that
either so I'll find a prisoner you know
and finds this very evil man by the name
of Barabbas and there was a tradition to
release a prisoner and I think so I'll
just get the worst character he's guilty
of murder and treason and I'll set him
up next to Jesus and they'll obviously
choose Jesus I mean it's obvious what
they'll do and he does that and the
crowd says we want you to release
Barabbas and he says what do you want me
to do with Jesus and they say kill him
crucify him he says why what wrong you
see he's really stuck now what wrong has
he done
crucify him just then he gets a message
from his wife Jesus is praying for
Pilate
it's interesting
it's interesting for Herod and to pass
it appears to be too late
not even a word but for pilate it
appears that there is still time
Jesus is praying and a message in answer
to that prayer is given to pilate's wife
a dream and in that amazing dream which
you'll read about and Desire of Ages an
amazing dream she sees what's happening
out there and who Jesus really is
and she sends a message the last warning
that pilate will receive
have nothing to do with that innocent
man
I have suffered much concerning him in a
dream have nothing to do with you should
have listened to her
instead of that he says well I'm going
to wash my hands you can't wash your
hands you can't sidestep that you say
well these probably would still have
killed Jesus wouldn't they yes but the
blood of Jesus would not have been upon
his hands
he washes his hands and he says it will
do it in whatever you want to do I mean
it was
they knew if they pushed hard enough
that Pontius Pilate this weak man would
finally yield
and would allow Jesus to be killed well
that's the scenario and now as we go in
our next lecture and talk about Judaism
because we're going to understand what's
happening culturally hopefully as we
come to the text you say when are we
going to get to angels and wise men and
we're like we're almost there we just
finished the background as we look at
the culture of Judaism and we look at
the mission of John the Baptist will be
ready to go let's pray before we close
today
Father in heaven
we've taken a broad overview of been
what of what's been happening in the
in that historical time and the rise of
power and the jockeying for position
and we see as things are coming together
that
there are
both forces for good and forces for evil
working planning
and I pray that as we come to this story
now the birth of Jesus as we as we look
at the setting
that we will be able to understand more
clearly what's happening and again as I
have prayed before not just to
understand the information but but to
see what Jesus came to do
for each one of us
I pray in Jesus name amen
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