Roman Emperors & New Testament Timeline

 Roman Emperors & New Testament Timeline

Augustus (27 BC–AD 14)

• 📖 Luke 2:1 – Census ordered → Jesus is born in Bethlehem

• Time of relative peace (Pax Romana) that helped the gospel spread

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Tiberius (AD 14–37)

• 📖 Luke 3:1 – John the Baptist begins ministry

• 📖 Gospels – Jesus’ public ministry and crucifixion

• Pontius Pilate governs Judea under Tiberius

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Caligula (AD 37–41)

• Attempted to place his statue in the Jerusalem Temple (crisis background)

• Increased Jewish–Roman tensions (intertestamental context)

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Claudius (AD 41–54)

• 📖 Acts 18:2 – Jews expelled from Rome

• Aquila and Priscilla meet Paul in Corinth

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Nero (AD 54–68)

• 📖 Acts 25:10–12 – Paul appeals to Caesar

• 📖 Acts 28 – Paul under house arrest in Rome

• Traditional time of Peter and Paul’s martyrdom

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Year of Turmoil (AD 68–69)

• Empire instability after Nero’s death

• Weakening control in Judea

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Vespasian (AD 69–79)

• Former general in Judea

• Leads Roman war effort against Jewish revolt

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Titus (AD 79–81)

• AD 70 – Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple

• 📖 Matthew 24; Luke 21 – Fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy

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Domitian (AD 81–96)

• Tradition links his reign to persecution

• 📖 Revelation 1:9 – John exiled to Patmos

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At-a-Glance Table (Ăn Tí Cháo Nóng Vào Trời Đông)

Emperor	Reign	New Testament Connection
Augustus	27 BC–AD 14	Birth of Jesus (Luke 2)
Tiberius	AD 14–37	Ministry & crucifixion of Jesus
Claudius	AD 41–54	Jews expelled from Rome (Acts 18)
Nero	AD 54–68	Paul appeals to Caesar
Vespasian	AD 69–79	Jewish War begins
Titus	AD 79–81	Jerusalem destroyed (AD 70)
Domitian	AD 81–96	Revelation; John exiled