Map of Judea, ruled by Pilate AD 28

Map of Judea, ruled by Pilate AD 28

Israel's territory of Judea in Roman times was part of the larger Roman province of Judea. Romans established it after the Roman Empire had conquered the region in 63 BC.

The Roman governor rule the province included Judea proper, Samaria, and Idumea. Pontius Pilate was one of the governors. 

Governor Pilate

Pontius Pilate was the fifth prefect (governor) of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius during the trial of Jesus Christ. He is known for his role in the crucifixion of Jesus, as depicted in the New Testament. Historians debate Pilate's actions during this event. Some say he was reluctant to carry out the execution and others paint him as a ruthless authority seeking to suppress dissent. Regardless of his true intentions, Pilate's name has become synonymous with the power and cruelty of the Roman Empire in Judea.

The Roman presence in Judea triggered a series of big events in the Bible. It was during the Roman occupation that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and eventually crucified in Jerusalem. In Judeo-Christian tradition, the Roman Empire is represented as the oppressive power that ruled the region and allowed the persecution of Jews by their neighbors.

Judea: King David’s home

Judea was home to a number of key biblical figures, including King David and King Solomon. It was also the site of important biblical events such as the birth, ministry, and execution of Jesus Christ.

Jewish revolts

The Roman occupation of Judea was marked by numerous uprisings, some of which had religious motivations. Zealots, a group of Jewish rebels, believed in the imminent arrival of the Messiah. They saw the Roman presence as a desecration of Jewish land. This led to a number of rebellions against the Roman authorities during the first century AD, such as the Great Jewish Revolt from 66-73 AD. These uprisings ultimately ended in AD 70 with Roman crushing the revolt and destroying the Second Temple, a traumatic event in Jewish history. The Temple has never been rebuilt.

Written by AI Chat

Edited by Miller

For Pilate's story, Matthew 27, Casual English Bible

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