Don Stewart :: Who Were the Caesars Mentioned in the Four Gospels?

Who Were the Caesars Mentioned in the Four Gospels?

The World into Which Jesus Came – Question 4

In the four gospels, the name “Caesar” figures into the life of Jesus Christ. We find Caesar Augustus mentioned at the birth of Christ and Tiberius Caesar at the beginning of His public ministry. Who were these men? What importance do they have with respect to the life of Christ?

1. Caesar Augustus

One of the prominent figures in the New Testament was the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus. Augustus ruled from 27 B.C to A.D. 14. He was originally named was Caius Octavius Caepias. He was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar.

Caesar was murdered in 44 B.C. and Augustus eventually succeeded him without a rival. He refused to be called rex or dictator.

However in 27 B.C, the Roman Senate called him “Augustus.” This name gave the implication that he was to be venerated above all mortals.

He Gave a Command to Enroll Everyone

It was Augustus who was ruling Rome when Jesus was born. He is the one who decreed that the entire world should be enrolled for the purpose of taxation. We read about this in Luke’s gospel. It declares,

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (Luke 2:1 ESV)

The command made each family member register for taxation. This is why Joseph had to leave Galilee with Mary and go to Bethlehem.

Caesar Unknowingly Fulfilled Bible Prophecy

When Augustus made the decree that everyone in the empire should be enrolled in a census he had no idea that this act would fulfill Bible prophecy. The decision he made, some fifteen hundred miles from the Holy land, started a chain of events that led to the birth of the Messiah in the predicted city of Bethlehem. The Bible says Joseph and Mary went from Galilee to Bethlehem to register in the census. The eighty-mile journey would have taken them four or five days. We read in Luke:

All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fianc?e, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (Luke 2:3-6 NLT)

There would have been no reason for them to leave their hometown of Nazareth to have their child except for this decree of Caesar. Joseph was a descendant of King David.

Consequently they had to travel to the city of David, Bethlehem, to register or enroll. Among other things, this explains why God chose a girl who lived in Nazareth to be the mother of the Messiah rather than one in Bethlehem.

In going to Bethlehem the prophecy regarding the city of the Messiah’s birth was fulfilled. The prophet Micah wrote,

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient time. (Micah 5:2 NIV)

The irony is that Caesar Augustus, for whom deity was claimed, unwittingly fulfilled the prediction of Scripture of the birthplace of the true God who became a human being. This is a further indication how the God of the Bible is in control of all events.

This Is an Accurate Account of a Census

It had been charged by critics of the Bible that Rome never ordered its citizens to return to their ancestral homelands to enroll. However the discovery in Egypt of a Roman census edict from A.D. 104 proved that those who lived elsewhere had to return to their original homes to register. Consequently there is no reason to doubt the historical accuracy of the account.

Furthermore, we have the testimony of an accurate historian, Luke, as to what happened. This should settle the matter.

2. Tiberius Caesar

The other Caesar mentioned in the New Testament was Tiberius. There is one specific reference to him as well as a number of references to Caesar in general.

He Is Mentioned at the Beginning of John’s Ministry

We find him mentioned at the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist. This is recorded in the Gospel of Luke. It reads,

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. (Luke 3:1, 2 NRSV)

It is interesting to note that the only importance Caesar had, as far as God was concerned, was to mark the time in history when the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist. Otherwise his life and rule was of no concern for the plan of God as recorded in Scripture.

This is the only mention of Tiberius by name in the four gospels. He is referred to as Caesar on two other occasions without being named — the poll tax question, and at Jesus’ trial.

The Poll Tax Question Was Put to Jesus

There was the question put to Jesus about the paying of the poll-tax. Should the people pay it or not? Jesus answered,

Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? “Caesar’s,” they said. “Well then,” He told them, “give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:24, 25 HCSB)

The Caesar in question was Tiberius.

There Were False Charges That Jesus Plotted against Caesar

There was also the charge that Jesus was plotting to overthrow Caesar. When Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate this charge was put forth. The Bible says,

Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:1, 2 NKJV)

Again, this is a reference to Tiberius.

Jesus Was Charged with Opposing Caesar

The accusation by the religious rulers was that Jesus was opposing Caesar. We read in John’s gospel:

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” (John 19:12 NIV)

The religious leaders had no love for Caesar. However, they hated Jesus all the more. This is why they made reference to Caesar.

Summary – Question 4
Who Were the Caesars Mentioned in the Four Gospels?

Only two Caesars are mentioned by name in the four gospels — Augustus and Tiberius. We can make the following observations about what Scripture says about these Roman leaders.

Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor made the decree that a census should be taken of everyone in the Roman Empire. This caused Joseph and Mary to leave their home in Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. Their Son Jesus was born in Bethlehem — fulfilling the prediction of Micah the prophet with respect to the birthplace of the Messiah.

Therefore, unwittingly, this decree made by Caesar allowed God’s Word to be fulfilled in a miraculous way. It is further confirmation that the God of the Bible is control of all things.

Tiberius Caesar is only mentioned in the New Testament to mark the time in history when the Word of God came to John the Baptist. He is referred to on two other occasions by his title “Caesar” but without his name.

We find that the only importance that these two world leaders had as far as God was concerned was in reference to the events around the life of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the New Testament would not have mentioned them at all because they have no other relevance in God’s great plan for our world.