TIBERIUS. The Emperor Tiberius, Son of Livia the Wife of Augustus, and of Tiberius Nero, her former Husband, of the Patrician Family of the Claudii, was adopted by Augustus in the fourth Year of Christ, or of the Vulgar Æra, and succeeded him in the Year of our Lord 14, and reigned twenty-two Years, seven Months, and seven Days. We shall not1 not undertake to give a particular Account of his Life and Government; it shall suffice to set down here what has any regard to the Sacred History, and what may contribute to the Illustration of the Scriptures, which is the principal Object of our Care in this Work. The Jews therefore made application to Tiberius, in the 17th Year of Christ, for some Abatement of the Tacit. Annal. l. 11. c. 4.Taxes, with which they were oppressed. The Emperor referred the matter to Germanicus, who was to proceed this Year on his Expedition into the East. But we are not informed how Germanicus determined the Affair.
Some Years after this, that is, in the Year of Christ 19, and of Tiberius the 6th, the Senate of Rome forbad any Jewish Ceremonies to be exercised in the City; they even decreed, according to Tacitus, that the Jews should be expelled out of Italy, except they changed their Religion in a certain time; and that all that did not conform to this Decree should be reduced to perpetual Slavery. But neither Josephus nor Suetonius tell us that they were Philo Leg. p. 1014, 1015.driven out of Italy. Philo imputes this Persecution to the Intrigues of Sejanus, who had Apprehensions their too great Fidelity might obstruct the ill Designs he Joseph. Antiq. l. 13. c. 5. p. 623.was forming. Josephus says that it took its Rise from four Jews, who professing to teach Judaism at Rome, had persuaded a certain Roman Lady, called Fulvia, to embrace this Religion, and to put rich Presents into their Hands, to be sent (as they said) to the Temple of Jerusalem; though the truth was, they were to be converted to their own use. Tiberius being informed of this by Saturninus, the Husband of Fulvia, had all the Jews driven out of Rome. There were four thousand of them enrolled, Sueton. in Tiber. c. 36.to be sent against the Robbers of Sardinia.
‘Twas towards the Year 26 of the Vulgar Æra, that the Emperor sent Pontius Pilate into Judea, to succeed Gratus. Pilate continued there from the Year 26 to 35. We have already spoke of his Government under his proper Article. This Governor attempted to consecrate to Tiberius Philo Leg. p. 1033.the Golden Bucklers in the Palace of Herod at Jerusalem. The Jews were very much offended at this, and made earnest supplication to Pilate, to take away these Bucklers, or at least to allow them to send a Deputation to the Emperor, or to write to him about it. They wrote to him therefore, and the Emperor gave Command, that they should be removed forthwith. Pilate gave also a new Occasion of Discontent to the Jews, by causing Roman Troops to enter into Jerusalem, with their Ensigns and Colours, upon which were painted the Arms of the Emperor. But the Joseph. Antiq. l. 18. c. 4.Constancy and Intreaties of the Jews at last prevailed with him to carry these Ensigns back to Cæsarea.
Forty Years before the Destruction of Jerusalem, that is, in the Year 30 of Christ, and the 16th and 17th of Tiberius, the Romans took away from the Jews the Power of Life and Death.2 But in the Year following, or the 31st of Christ, Tiberius sent Orders to the Governor, to make no Innovations as to the Customs of the Jews, nor to commit any Violence upon their Persons. When Jesus Christ was dead, in the 33d Year of the Vulgar Æra, Pilate wrote to Tiberius, as they say,3 giving him an Account of his Death, and of the Prodigies that followed thereupon. Thus was the Emperor informed of the Proofs that Jesus Christ had given of his Deity. He wrote to the Senate about it, and laid it before them in such a manner, as shewed plainly he desired they should decree divine Honours to Jesus Christ. But the Senate refused to admit the Worship of our Saviour, to maintain their own Authority, and to hinder others from adoring any God without their Permission; and pretending that no one was to be acknowledged without their Consent. Tiberius did not forbear to shew his good Inclinations towards the Christians, and even threatened those with Death that should accuse them, or give them any Disturbance. In effect, we do not perceive that there was any Persecution of the Church under this Emperor. He died in the Month of March, in the Year of Christ 37.
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