Chapter 8 -

Other people in the New Testament

 

 

 

 

HEROD

 

If we were to name one of the most cruel people in the Bible and the New Testament, one good candidate would certainly be King Herod. Even though he built a lot – among other things, the Temple of Jerusalem, the Castle of Antonia, the mountain Castle of Masada, and established the city of Caesarea, well-known from the Acts – he was also a very cruel ruler.

   His evil is seen in that he, in addition to many other people, killed his wife and three sons and other relatives. It is told that Caesar Augustus had said that "it is better to be Herod's pig (hys) than his son (hyios)". Augustus said this, because Herod did not eat pork.

   The historian called Josephus also refers to Herod’s corrupted character. He mentions that he was "the most cruel tyrant that ever ruled", and that he killed and molested his own citizens:

 

This was not a king but a most cruel tyrant that ever ruled. He killed a group of people, and the destiny of those who were still alive was so sad that the dead people could be called lucky. He not only tormented his citizens, but molested the whole country. To make foreign towns beautiful, he robbed from his own people and donated the spoils to foreign nations, all of which were paid with the blood of the Jews. As a result, the previous welfare and old valuable customs were replaced with total poverty and moral corruption of the nation. Because of Herod, the Jews have had to suffer more tribulations during a few years than their forefathers during the long period between the departure from Babylon and the homecoming during the times of Kserks.

 

- (Matt 2:13) And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

 

NICODEMUS

 

- (John 3:1-3) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.

3  Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 

Nicodemus to whom the previous verses refer and with whom Jesus talked about being born again is mentioned also in the Talmud and the notes of Josephus as a Pharisee who was also one of the leaders of the nation. These sources tell that he was one of the wealthiest men in Jerusalem and stingy with money. It is also known that his son Joseph was one of the defense leaders in Jerusalem and took part in negotiations of surrendering to Rome decades later.

 

CAIAPHAS AND ANNAS

 

The historian Josephus and the Talmud give a very bad picture of the high priest Caiaphas and his father-in-law Annas who were Jesus' strong opponents. These sources talk about the greediness of Annas and other clerical families and of how they extorted money from other people. According to the Talmud, one of Annas' sins was "whispering", meaning that he manipulated the courts of law.

   Caiaphas being a historical person has been confirmed. A bone coffin was found in Jerusalem, containing the bones of a man who was about 60 years of age. On top of this beautifully decorated coffin, there is the name "Caiaphas".  Also, a coin dating back to 41 / 42 A.D. was found in the same tomb. It is likely that this coffin belonged to the high priest Caiaphas who lived in the days of Jesus. The date would seem to fit.

 

- (Luke 3:2) Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

 

- (John 18:12-13) Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

 

- (Matt 26:3) Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

 

- (Acts 4:5-7) And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6  And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

7  And when they had set them in the middle, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?

 

PILATE

 

- (Luke 23:20, 23-24)  Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.

23  And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

 

- (Acts 3:13) The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

 

- (1 Tim 6:13) I give you charge in the sight of God, who vivifies all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

 

As comes to Pilate to whom the verses above refer and who finally condemned Jesus to death, many other sources tell about this governor of Samaria, Judea, and Idumaea (in 26–36 A.D.).

   For example, the historian called Josephus referred to Jesus and Pilate in his writings that were mentioned above. He wrote:

 

Jesus lived in those times (…) Provoked by our influential men, Pilate condemned him to death on the cross, however.

 

- Also the Roman historian Tacitus mentions both Jesus and Pilate in his Annals:

 

Their name came from someone called Christ, whom the procurator Pilate condemned and nailed on the cross during the reign of Tiberius.

 

- Alexandrian Philo who lived in 25 B.C–50 A.D. wrote about the character of Pilate. He said that Pilate was cruel and hardhearted, and that despotism and unfairness ruled in his days:

 

He was cruel and his hard heart did not know mercy. During his reign, corruption and violence, robberies, oppression, despotism, executions without judicial questioning, and unlimited cruelty reigned in Judea.

 

- Pilate’s name appears also in a paving flag. It has the names of Tiberius and Pilate (Luke 3:1). It was found in Caesarea in 1961 and is the dedication of a building which was made in the honor of Caesar Tiberius. It says:

 

To the inhabitants of Caesarea, honoring Tiberius by Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea.

 

SIMON CYRENE

 

- (Mark 15:21) And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 

A man to whom only the Gospels briefly refer is Simon Cyrene. The Gospels tell that he carried the cross of Jesus and was also the father of Alexander and Rufus.

   It is interesting that a tomb was found near Jerusalem with the following writing on it: "Alexander, the son of Simon – Alexander Cyrene.” It is possible that the person who had been in the tomb might have been the son of the same person who carried the cross of Jesus.

 

BARABBAS

 

- (Matt 27:20-21) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21  The governor answered and said to them, Whether of the two will you that I release to you? They said, Barabbas.

 

- (Acts 3:14) But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you

 

Another man to whom the New Testament only briefly refers is Barabbas. He was the man, actually the murderer, whom the people asked to be freed instead of Christ; an incidence that is referred to in the Gospels and later in the speech Peter made to the people.

   Barabbas, however, was not just another thief or murderer. It seems that he was guilty of rebelling against the Roman administration to drive them away from the country. He had been imprisoned together with other rebels after having murdered someone (Mark 15:7: And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.).

 

THE CAESARS

 

The New Testament also mentions the various Caesars who were in power during the events of the New Testament. Caesar Augustus is mentioned to have been in power in the times of Jesus' early childhood, and Tiberius was Caesar when John the Baptist and Jesus begun their mission. The Caesars also appear in incidents like the Pharisees asking Jesus whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not, or in how Paul appealed to Caesar to solve his case. These verses well describe the situation of the society and the greatness and power of Rome in those days.

 

-  (Luke 2:1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

 

- (Luke 3:1) Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

 

- (Matt 22:17-22) Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt you me, you hypocrites?

19  Show me the tribute money. And they brought to him a penny.

20  And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21  They say to him, Caesar’s. Then said he to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.

22  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

 

- (John 19:15) But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.  Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

 

- (Acts 25:9-12) But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10  Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know.

11  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.

12  Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Have you appealed to Caesar? to Caesar shall you go.

 

- (Phil 4:22) All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.

 

GAMALIEL

 

- (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39) Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35  And said to them, You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men.

38  And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing:

39  But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God.

 

- (Acts 22:1-3) Men, brothers, and fathers, hear you my defense which I make now to you.

2  (And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he said,)

3  I am truly a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day.

 

The Acts mentions a person called Gamaliel who was a Pharisee and a well recognized teacher of the law.

   It is interesting to note that he is also mentioned in other sources, his teachings appear, among others, in the writings of rabbis. For example, Pirket Avot (Pirket avot meforashim me-et Eliezer Levi 5:17, p. 90) includes a statement that resembles the words of Gamaliel in the Acts. It says:

 

Each party (Hebr. mahloket, “division” or “controversial question”) that has been founded in the name of God will continue to be; and if something has not been built in the name of God, it will not stay.

 

Also the Talmud has the following statement about Gamaliel's important status:

 

When the Rabban Gamaliel died, ended the respect of the law's cleanliness and holiness.

 

BARNABAS

 

Barnabas is one of those believers who is mentioned in the Acts. He helped Paul in the beginning of his Christian life and worked with Paul among the congregation of Antioch. From Antioch, they were both sent "to do foreign mission work", to be apostles in other new areas.

   It is, however, peculiar that these two important apostles quarreled over a small issue: should they take Mark with them or not. As a result, their ways parted. This shows us that they too were only imperfect people, even though God acted powerfully through them.

 

- (Acts 9:27) But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

 

- (1 Cor 9:6) Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

 

 - (Acts 15:2) When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

 

- (Gal 2:1) Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

 

- (Acts 15:37-39) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;

 

JOHN MARK

 

In the previous passage we spoke about how Paul did not want to take Mark with him, because he had once left when things were not finished yet.

   However, it is interesting to note that later on, Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, was working together with Paul. He is mentioned with others, including Luke, as his fellow worker.

 

- (Acts 13:13) Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

 

- (Acts 15:37-39) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;

 

- (Col 4:10) Aristarchus my fellow prisoner salutes you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom you received commandments: if he come to you, receive him;)

 

- (2 Tim 4:11) Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

 

- (Philemon 1:23-24) There salute you Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow laborers.

 

SERGIUS PAULUS

 

- (Acts 13:6-7) And when they had gone through the isle to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7  Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

 

Sergius Paulus was one of  the people Paul met on one of his many mission journeys. He was a proconsul and had a great interest in the word of God.

   It is interesting to note that an inscription was found in Cyprus, near the old town of Paphos, which dates back to the times of Paul and speaks of a person who has the same name. It says, "during the proconsul Paulus". This person very probably is the same man than is in the Acts, Sergius Paulus, whom the Bible says to have been a prudent man.

 

GALLIO

 

- (Acts 18:12-16) And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13  Saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.

14  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O you Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

15  But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look you to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

16  And he drove them from the judgment seat.

 

Another proconsul called Gallio is also mentioned in the Acts.

   A letter of Caesar Claudius (41–54 A.D.; Claudius is mentioned in the Acts 11:28 and 18:2) was found in the old Delphoi in Greece, which proves that Gallio had to be in Corinth around 51–52 A.D. The letter, carved to a limestone, has the following writing:

 

Lucius Junius Gallio, my friend and the proconsul of Achaia...

 

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

 

Some of Paul's fellow workers were also a married couple called Aquila and Priscilla. They were Jews like Paul, but they had to leave Rome because of Claudius’ command. This couple is mentioned in the letters of Paul several times:

 

- (Acts 18:18) And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brothers, and sailed there into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

 

- (Rom 16:3) Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

 

- (1 Cor 16:19) The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

 

- (2 Tim 4:19) Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

 

THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS

 

- (Acts 23:1-5) And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

3  Then said Paul to him, God shall smite you, you white washed wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?

4  And they that stood by said, Revile you God’s high priest?

5  Then said Paul, I knew not, brothers, that he was the high priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

 

The high priest Ananias was one of the corrupted high priests of those days.

   The historian Josephus has referred to him several times, telling of his despotism and brutality. The Talmud also tells that he was a glutton and a drunk, and that he stole funds from the temple for his own use.

 

FELIX

 

- (Acts 24:24-27) And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25  And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.

26  He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: why he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

27  But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

 

The governor Felix was one of those who questioned Paul during his imprisonment. The historian Tacitus refers to him in his Annals (Xll.54.). Tacitus wrote about Felix:

 

He used the power of a king with the attitude of a slave.

 

APOLLOS

 

Apollos was certainly one of the best preachers mentioned in the Bible, since he was "a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." He often worked in the same places as the Apostle Paul, at least in the congregations of Corinth and Ephesus.

   In Corinth, however, there was some division that is found in churches also these days. The people started to compare the servants of God to each other and rank them, resulting in different divided parties. Paul warned them against such behavior:

 

- (Acts 18:24) And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

 

- (1 Cor 3:4-6) For while one said, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal?

5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

- (1 Cor 16:12) As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come to you with the brothers: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

 

- (Tit 3:13) Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them.

 

TITUS

 

Titus was one of Paul's fellow workers. He was a Greek by birth and is mentioned also in many of Paul's letters:

 

- (2 Cor 8:23) Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brothers be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

 

- (Gal 2:1) Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

 

- (2 Tim 4:10) For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

 

- (Tit 1:4) To Titus, my own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.