(2) Political Contact. The Romans and Jews first came into political contact about B. C. 161, when Judas Maccabxus. being moved by the great and widely spread military renown of the Romans, sent an embassy to Rome, and formed with them a treaty offensive and defensive, but with the special view of obtaining help against 'the Grecians ;' that is, Demetrius, king of Syria (I Mace. viii; Joseph. Antiq. xii. to, 6; Justin xxxvi. 3). The contests, however, which soon ensued in Syria, for the throne. gave the Jews respite from their neighbors, and even weight in the political scale, so that the treaty was not much called into operation (1 Mace. x. it). Jonathan renewed and confirmed the connection with the Romans (1 \iacc. xii : Joseph. Antiq. xiii. 5. 8); as did Simon, who 'sent Nunienius to Rome with a great shield of gold, of a thousand pounds weight, to confirm the league with them' (r Mace. xiv. 21). A very favorable answer was returned in the name of 'Lucius, consul of the Romans.' The Jews thus attained the honor of being ad mitted into the rank of friends (sorii) of the Roman people—a dangerous distinction,but which seems to have had an immediately beneficial in fluence in restraining the Syrian kings, who at once recognized the high-priest Simon (i Mace. xiv. 3S, sq.; xiv. r6, sq.).
Julius Cesar, whom political considerations led into the East, confirmed Hyreanus in the high priesthood, and showed himself well-disposed towards the Jews by several decrees, but asso ciated with flyrcanus Antipater, an Idumean, who, under the title of procurator of Judxa, was in reality the sole governor (Antiq. xiv. to, to; xiv. 8, 5). The Jews were anew declared friends of the Roman people, being in reality their sub jects.
(3) Herod Declared King of the Jews. the year B. C. 4o the Roman senate declared Ilerod king of the Jews. Archelatis, Herod's son. being banished by Augustus (A. D. 6 or 7). Judea was put under the immediate government of Rome. Josephus says, 'The dominion of Archelaus being reduced to a province, Coponius, a person of the equestrian order among the Romans, is sent thither, invested by Cesar with the power of life and death' (De Bell. Ind. ii.8, t). In his Antiquities (xvii. 13, 5) he adds, 'Cyre nius also caine into Judaea, it being annexed to the province of Syria.' The procurators, under whom Judzea had now fallen, had their official residence at Caesarea. When Cyrenius came into Syria he took an ac count of the substance of the Jews. At first they were unwilling to endure this badge of subjec tion, but submitted with difficulty (Antiq. xviii. 1, 1). From this time, however, they continued tributary to Rome (Lardner, i. 8o). In order to
enforce the taxes and generally aid the procura tor, a body of Roman soldiers (a cohort) was put at his disposal, which had their quarters per manently in the country, their head station being at Crsarea. In Acts x:1 mention is made of the Italian band at Cesarea, which was so termed because composed of Italian soldiers, while the other troops in Syria and Judxa consisted of natives (Schwarz, De Coltorte Italica, Altorf, 172o).
A portion of the troops was always stationed in Jerusalem at the Passover, in order to aid in preserving the peace; they had their quarters in the citadel Antonia. which commanded the Tem. pie, and so controlled the city (Antiq. xix. 9, 2; xx. 4, 3; Acts xxi. 31, sq.; xxii. 24; xxiii. 23).
(4) Procurators of Judrea. The first pro. curator entrusted with the government of Judira was Coponius; he was followed by Marcus Am bivius; then came Annius Rufus, in whose time Augustus died, A. D. 14. The next was Valerius Gratus, who was appointed by Tiberius; he con tinued in the province eleven years, and was then succeeded by Pontius Pilate, whose government lasted ten years. Lardner is of opinion that Pon tius Pilate left Judaea before the Passover. A. D. 36. During the ensuing four or five years it may be questioned whether the Jews had a procurator residing amongst them with power of life and death, as they had from A. D. 7 to A. D. 36 or 37. They were, however, subject to the Romans. Lardner inclines to the opinion that they had no procurator residing among them from the time of Pilate's removal to Agrippa's accession. During this time they were imme diately under the government, first of Vitellius, and then of Petronius, presidents of Syria.
(5) Treatment of Christians. Hence some degree of license would be assumed by the Jew ish authorities. which was manifested in their treatment of the first Christian missionaries, as shown in the stoning of Stephen, and the perse cution which immediately hroke out. In Acts ix: 31 a different state of things is recorded—'Then had the churches rest throughout all Judtra. and Galilee, and Samaria.' This appears to have arisen from the Jews themselves being in distress. In Alexandria their houses of prayer were all de stroyed. In the third year of Caligula. A. D. 39, Petronius was sent into Syria with orders to set up the emperor's statue in the Temple at Jerusa lem. This rest of the churches seems to have reached some way into Herod Agrippa's reign. When he ascended the Jewish throne. as we have already intimated, the Jews had a king of their own, but he was a vassal king.