Ben Wilson

Listen to this. This is from an ancient historian, Josephus. Here's what Josephus says. The usual crowd had assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Roman cohort had taken up its position on the roof of the portico of the temple, for a body of men in arms invariably mounts guard at the feasts to prevent disorders arising from such a concourse of people.

Listen to this. This is from an ancient historian, Josephus. Here's what Josephus says. The usual crowd had assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Roman cohort had taken up its position on the roof of the portico of the temple, for a body of men in arms invariably mounts guard at the feasts to prevent disorders arising from such a concourse of people.

Thereupon, one of the soldiers, raising his robe, stooped in an indecent manner so as to turn his backside to the Jews, and made a noise in keeping with his posture. Enraged at the insult, the whole multitude with loud cries called upon the governor to punish the soldier.

Thereupon, one of the soldiers, raising his robe, stooped in an indecent manner so as to turn his backside to the Jews, and made a noise in keeping with his posture. Enraged at the insult, the whole multitude with loud cries called upon the governor to punish the soldier.

Some of the more hot-headed young men and seditious persons in the crowd started to fight, and picking up stones hurled them at the troops. The governor, fearing a general attack upon himself, sent for reinforcements. These troops pouring into the porticos, the Jews were seized with irresistible panic and turned to fly from the temple and make their escape into the town.

Some of the more hot-headed young men and seditious persons in the crowd started to fight, and picking up stones hurled them at the troops. The governor, fearing a general attack upon himself, sent for reinforcements. These troops pouring into the porticos, the Jews were seized with irresistible panic and turned to fly from the temple and make their escape into the town.

But such violence was used as they pressed round the exits that they were trodden underfoot and crushed to death by one another. Upwards of 30,000 perished, and the feast was turned into mourning for the whole nation and for every household into lamentation. Okay, so a riot that ends up leading to 30,000 dead starts because a Roman soldier moons the crowd and farts at them.

But such violence was used as they pressed round the exits that they were trodden underfoot and crushed to death by one another. Upwards of 30,000 perished, and the feast was turned into mourning for the whole nation and for every household into lamentation. Okay, so a riot that ends up leading to 30,000 dead starts because a Roman soldier moons the crowd and farts at them.

So it's a little funny, but obviously it's just a little way in which the Romans are showing, yeah, like we can do what we want. We're superior to you. We're in charge here. You're subservient to us. And so that is the kind of stuff that upset the Jews and made them yearn for a time when they would be free of Roman rule. I think there's also just a feeling of complete disruption.

So it's a little funny, but obviously it's just a little way in which the Romans are showing, yeah, like we can do what we want. We're superior to you. We're in charge here. You're subservient to us. And so that is the kind of stuff that upset the Jews and made them yearn for a time when they would be free of Roman rule. I think there's also just a feeling of complete disruption.

You're used to a certain way of life, and then the Romans completely upset it, bringing a lot of things, bringing wealth and trade and new goods and new people, but also like a complete disruption to your historical way of life. Paul Johnson has a good summary. The world into which Jesus was born was harsh, cruel, violent, and unstable. It was also materialistic and increasingly wealthy.

You're used to a certain way of life, and then the Romans completely upset it, bringing a lot of things, bringing wealth and trade and new goods and new people, but also like a complete disruption to your historical way of life. Paul Johnson has a good summary. The world into which Jesus was born was harsh, cruel, violent, and unstable. It was also materialistic and increasingly wealthy.

The great fact of geopolitics was Rome and its possessions in the process of transforming itself from a republic into an empire. It now occupied the shores of the entire Mediterranean, from which one of its great men, Pompey, had driven all the pirates which once infested it, using ruthless methods of brutality, torture, and large-scale public executions.

The great fact of geopolitics was Rome and its possessions in the process of transforming itself from a republic into an empire. It now occupied the shores of the entire Mediterranean, from which one of its great men, Pompey, had driven all the pirates which once infested it, using ruthless methods of brutality, torture, and large-scale public executions.

As a result, trade was expanding fast, and many cities and individuals doubled their riches in the generation before Jesus was born. Okay, so yes, like, they're bringing tons of wealth. A lot of people doubled their wealth in the generation before Jesus was born. But in so doing, they're disrupting traditional ways of life in Judea, and they're threatening the religious authorities' hold on power.

As a result, trade was expanding fast, and many cities and individuals doubled their riches in the generation before Jesus was born. Okay, so yes, like, they're bringing tons of wealth. A lot of people doubled their wealth in the generation before Jesus was born. But in so doing, they're disrupting traditional ways of life in Judea, and they're threatening the religious authorities' hold on power.

Listen to Paul Johnson's description of Herod the Great, the client king who was ruling Judea under the Romans. Paul Johnson says, In what we now call Palestine, a similar calm prevailed at the time of Jesus' birth, under the plutocratic tyranny of Herod the Great.

Listen to Paul Johnson's description of Herod the Great, the client king who was ruling Judea under the Romans. Paul Johnson says, In what we now call Palestine, a similar calm prevailed at the time of Jesus' birth, under the plutocratic tyranny of Herod the Great.

For more than 30 years, this astute financier, who had made himself the richest individual in the entire empire, had by his subservience to the rulers of Rome, and by princely gifts, made himself master of the ancient kingdom of the Jews. He was the greatest builder of his age, creating a new port at Caesarea in Samaria,

For more than 30 years, this astute financier, who had made himself the richest individual in the entire empire, had by his subservience to the rulers of Rome, and by princely gifts, made himself master of the ancient kingdom of the Jews. He was the greatest builder of his age, creating a new port at Caesarea in Samaria,