(6) Roman Customs, The Romans. during their dominion, introduced into Judea many of their manners and customs; their money be came current ; their weights and measures were adopted; their mode of reckoning time was cm ployed. Yet none of these things obtained more than partial prevalence.
(7) Latin Language. The Latin language no longer remained unknown, especially among the higher classes. In judicial proceedings and pub lic documents the Latin was used. It must have been extensively spoken in Jerusalem, since (John xix:zo) the title which bore the allegation on which our Lord was ostensibly put to death was written in Latin, as well as in Greek and Hebrew (Val. Max. ii. 2, 2). These three tongues were indeed used, but in what proportion cannot now be ascertained. Many Latinisms are found in the diction of the New Testament, though they may not be so numerous as was once supposed (Olearius, De Stylo N. T., p. 368, sq.; Georgi, in the second part of his Hieroerit. N. T., Viterb. 1733; Michaelis, Einleit. N. T., i. 173, sq.; Winer, Grammatik des Real Sprach., ed. Leipzig, 1844. Erst. Abschnitt). The language which our Lord spoke has been much disputed. The Latin (Wernsdorf, De Christo Latine loquente) has put in its claim. The Greek has done the same (D. Diodati, De Christo Gra'ee loquente, by Dobbin, London, 1843). There can, however, be little
doubt that he ordinarily employed the language of the people, which was neither Greek nor Latin, but Aramaic, a dialect of the Hebrew.
(8) Jewish Freedom. Not only in Judiea, but in other provinces of the Roman empire, the Jews enjoyed full freedom of worship, and were excused from military service on the express ground of their religious observances (Joseph. Antiq. xiv. To; xix. 5, 3 ; Philo, De Leg. p. to36). In Alexandria special favor was shown to the numerous Jews settled there by their Roman mas ters.
The right of citizenship is spoken of in Acts xxii :28, where we find the chief captain declar ing, in relation to Paul's claim of being a Roman, 'With a great sum obtained I this freedom.' In the preceding twenty-fifth verse we learn that it was unlawful to scourge 'a man that was a Roman, and uncondemned.' These statements are in strict accordance with what we learn from independent sources. (See CITIZENSHIP.) (9) Literature. Arnold's History of Rome and standard histories. Much information may be found by the English reader, on the state of manners in the first centuries after Christ, in the following fictions: Lockhart's Valerius; Bulwer's Pompeii; Warc's Palmyra; and Milman's His tory of Christianity. J. R. B.