World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 12
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Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of . He killed , the brother of , with . When he saw that it pleased the , he proceeded to seize also. This was during the days of . When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after . therefore was kept in the prison, but constant was made by to for him. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. And behold, of stood by him, and a shone in the cell. He struck on the side and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off his hands. 8 said to him, "Get dressed and put on your ." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by was real, but thought he saw a . When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately departed from him. When had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that has sent out his and me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the people were expecting." Thinking about that, he came to the house of , the mother of who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. When knocked at the door of the , a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized voice, she didn't open the for joy, but ran in and reported that was standing in front of the . They said to her, "You are crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his ." 16But continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell these things to and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of . When Herod had sought for him and didn't find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to . He went down from to , and stayed there. Now Herod was very angry with the people of and . They came with one accord to him and, having made , the king's personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on , and gave a speech to them. The people shouted, "The voice of a , and not of a man!" Immediately of struck him, because he didn't give the . Then he was eaten by worms and . But the word of grew and multiplied. and returned to when they had fulfilled their , also taking with them who was called Mark.
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.