Continuing with ancient historians and their accounts of Jesus and the rise of Christianity, what can be gleaned from the writings of Suetonius? Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas was a Roman historian and chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.). Because of his position, he would have had access to official government records of the empire and therefore would be in a very good position to know certain events that had occurred throughout the empire.
In writing about emperor Claudius (41-54 A.D.), Suetonius records,
He banished from Rome all the Jews, who were continually making disturbances at the instigation of one Chrestus. [1], [2]
According to Roman history, in 49 A.D. riots broke out in a Jewish community which resulted in the Jews being banned from the city. This information seems to correspond to what was recorded by Luke:
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. (Acts 18:2 NAS95)
Also, in his writing on Nero, Suetonius makes another mention of this Christian sect and their "mischievous superstition."
Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.[3]
What facts can be lifted from these two brief mentions in Suetonius' writings[4]?
- The Jews were expelled from Rome.
- Something about the teachings of Chrestus (Christ) caused the Jews to riot in Rome.
- The Christians beliefs are called "mischievous" implying that they were not in accord with social custom
- The term "Christians" identifies this group as one following the teachings of Christ.
- Suetonius. Claudius 25.
- "Chrestus" is a variant Latin spelling of Christus which is similar to how Tacitus spelled the word (Christus) as mentioned in yesterdays post.
- Suetonius. Nero 16.
- Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 191.