Jesus in History - Written Records: Tacitus, Roman Historian
Tacitus was a Roman historian who wrote 'Annals' in 115 CE. He talks about the Emperor Nero's persecution of Christians in Rome in 64 CE. There had been a great fire in Rome which people thought had been started by Nero to clear room for a big new palace.
Nero

Tacitus wrote:

"To dispel the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits, and treated with the most extreme punishments, some people, popularly known as Christians, whose disgraceful activities were notorious. The originator of that name, Christus, had been executed when Tiberius was Emperor, by order of the procurator Pontius Pilatus. But the deadly cult, though checked for a time, was now breaking out again not only in Judea, the birthplace of this evil, but even throughout Rome, where all the nasty and disgusting ideas from all over the world pour in and find a ready following."
Annals 15 : 44.

Tacitus did not like Christians. He said:

  • Christ was executed while Tiberius was Emperor (14-37 CE).
  • He was executed by order of Pontius Pilate (procurator from 26-36 CE).
  • His movement had its origins in Judea.
  • There were enough Christian believers at Rome by CE 64 to be made scapegoats by the Emperor Nero.
Statue of the Emperor Nero
© Bibleplaces.com

 
Nero's Palace
 Remains of Nero's Palace in Rome
Photograph by Su Strange
pliny
 Pliny - Roman Governor


©2007 RE:Quest Education, PO Box 613, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8WA