World English Bible · Under Rome
Luke 18
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He also spoke to them that they must always and not give up, saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't and didn't respect man. A was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!' He wouldn't for a while; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither nor respect man, yet because this bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. Won't his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises with them? I tell you that he will them quickly. Nevertheless, when comes, will he find on the earth?" He also spoke this to certain people who were convinced of their own , and who despised all others: "Two men went up into to ; one was a , and the other was a . The stood and by himself like this: ', I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, , or even like this . I twice a week. I give of all that I get.' But the , standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to , but beat his chest, saying, ', be merciful to me, a !' I tell you, this man went down to his house rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when saw it, they rebuked them. summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for Kingdom belongs to such as these. Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn't receive Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it." A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to ?" asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: . You know : 'Don't ,' 'Don't ,' 'Don't steal,' 'Don't give false ,' ' your and your mother.'" He said, "I have observed all these things from my youth up." When heard these things, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to . Then you will have ; then come, follow me." But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich. , seeing that he became very sad, said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into Kingdom! For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into Kingdom." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be ?" But he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with ." said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for Kingdom's sake, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, ." He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to , and all the things that are written through concerning will be completed. For he will be up to the , will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on. They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will ." They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn't understand the things that were said. As he came near , a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant. They told him that of was passing by. He cried out, ", you , have mercy on me!" Those who led rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "You , have mercy on me!" Standing still, commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do?" He said, ", that I may see again." said to him, "Receive your sight. Your has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying . All the people, when they saw it, praised .
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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.