Although his exact date of birth is unknown, Pontius Pilate was born Marcus Pontius Pilatus to the Pontii clan in central Italy. He served as the prefect or governor of Judea during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. We know little more than that. Much of what we do know comes from the Bible, whichContinue reading “Pontius Pilate: A Character Sketch”
Category Archives: Bible Times
God Comes Softly, Building in Silence
From start to finish, God’s temple was a peculiar building. It was the Lord’s own house, designed by Him and built according to His specifications. King Solomon built this first earthly building for God’s glory, dedicating it totally to His honor. This granted it a special sort of beauty. “Solomon’s temple is the most wonderfulContinue reading “God Comes Softly, Building in Silence”
Taxation in Bible Times
Poll tax, salt tax, and crown tax! Wherever they went, along major highways, at city gates, or along quiet country roads, the Israelites encountered the tax booth. The main symbol of foreign domination, and that which most stirred their indignation. Foreign taxation was nothing new to them, but the unscrupulous dealings of the Roman tax-farmers andContinue reading “Taxation in Bible Times”
The Religious Climate in Christ’s Time
The rabbis of Christ’s day proudly regarded Judea, with its traditional learning and religious academies, as superior to the northern regions of Israel. A sentiment that they expressed with the following saying. “If anyone wants to be rich, let him go north (to Galilee); if he wants to be wise, let him come south (toContinue reading “The Religious Climate in Christ’s Time”
Galilee in the Time of Christ
Galilee, a name well-known and much loved by many around the world. But in Christ’s time, the rabbis and religious leaders looked on Galilee with disdain. They viewed Judea proper, with its traditional lore and academic excellence, as far superior. The Galileans, they felt, were nothing but hot-headed country bumpkins. Israel’s northernmost region This nothernmost region of IsraelContinue reading “Galilee in the Time of Christ”
Bible Occupations: Service-Related
Most service-related occupations were carried out in the marketplace. An important place in the life of Oriental communities for conducting business, and more. As we have learned in the other posts of this series, the marketplace also served as a meeting place, a kind of employment office, and even as a preliminary court. In thisContinue reading “Bible Occupations: Service-Related”