Claudius Κλαύδιος
Roman emperor during Paul's ministry
Who is Claudius in the Bible?
Claudius was the Roman emperor during a significant portion of Paul's ministry in the first century AD. He is mentioned several times in the book of Acts, most notably when the prophet Agabus foretold a great famine that would occur during his reign, prompting the disciples to send relief to Judea (Acts 11:28). Claudius also issued an edict expelling all Jews from Rome, which indirectly led to Paul's meeting with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth (Acts 18:2). His reign provides the historical backdrop for several key events in Paul's missionary journeys and legal appeals, as Paul ultimately appealed to Caesar for justice during his trial (Acts 25:10-12). Claudius's edicts and policies significantly shaped the early church's circumstances and Paul's movements throughout the Mediterranean world.
Biography
Claudius, also referred to as Caesar, was the Roman emperor during a significant portion of Paul's ministry. He is mentioned in several contexts throughout the book of Acts.
In Act.11.28, the prophet Agabus foretold a great famine that would occur during the reign of Claudius, which prompted the disciples to send relief to the believers in Judea.
Act.18.2 mentions that Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome, which led Aquila and Priscilla to move to Corinth, where they met Paul.
In Act.17.7, the accusers of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica claimed that they were acting against the decrees of Caesar, likely referring to Claudius.
During Paul's trial in Acts 25-26, Claudius is mentioned as the emperor to whom Paul appealed for justice (Act.25.8,10,11,12,21; 26.32).
In Act.27.24, an angel told Paul that he must stand before Caesar, referring to Claudius or his successor.
Finally, in Act.28.19, Paul stated that he was compelled to appeal to Caesar because of the Jews' opposition.
These references to Claudius provide historical context for the events in Acts and demonstrate the Roman Empire's significant influence on the early Christian church.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentActs 5 verses
- Acts 11:28
"One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)"
Study Acts → - Acts 18:2
"There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,"
Study Acts → - Acts 17:7
"and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”"
Study Acts → - Acts 25:8
"Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”"
Study Acts → - Acts 25:10
"Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well."
Study Acts →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Κλαύδιος | — | — |
| Named | Greek | Καῖσαρ | Kaîsar | Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor |
Claudius
nsidering himself a real and corporeal god, had deeply offended the Jews by ordering a statue of himself to be placed in the temple of Jerusalem, as Antiochus Epiphanes had done with the statue of Zeus in the days of the Maccabees (2 Macc 6:2). Claudius reverted to the policy of Augustus and Tiberius and marked the opening year of his reign by issuing edicts in favor of the Jews (Ant., XIX, 5), who were permitted in all parts of the empire to observe their laws and customs in a free and peaceable manner, special consideration being given to the Jews of Alexandria who were to enjoy without molestation all their ancient rights and privileges. The Jews of Rome, however, who had become very numerous, were not allowed to hold assemblages there (Dio LX, vi, 6), an enactment in full correspondence with the general policy of Augustus regarding Judaism in the West. The edicts mentioned were largely due to the intimacy of Claudius with Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who had been living in Rome and had been in some measure instrumental in securing the succession for Claudius. As a reward for this service, the Holy Land had a king once more. Judea was added to the tetrarchies of Philip and Antipas; and Herod Agrippa I was made ruler over the wide territory which had been governed by his grandfather. The Jews' own troubles during the reign of Caligula had given "rest" (the American Standard Revised Version "peace") to the churches "throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria" (Ac 9:31). But after the settlement of these troubles, "Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church" (Ac 12:1). He slew one apostle and "when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize" another (Ac 12:3). His miserable death is recorded in Ac 12:20-23, and in Ant, XIX, 8. This event which took place in the year 44 AD is held to have been coincident with one of the visits of Paul to Jerusalem. It has proved one of the chronological pivots of the apostolic history.
Whatever concessions to the Jews Claudius may have been induced out of friendship for Herod Agrippa to make at the beginning of his reign, Suetonius records (Claud. chapter 25) "Judaeos impulsore Chresto assidue tumultuantes Roma expulit," an event assigned by some to the year 50 AD, though others suppose it to have taken place somewhat later. Among the Jews thus banished from Rome were Aquila and Priscilla with whom Paul became associated at Corinth (Ac 18:2). With the reign of Claudius is also associated the famine which was foretold by Agabus (Ac 11:28). Classical writers also report that the reign of Claudius was, from bad harvest or other causes, a period of general distress and scarcity over the whole world (Dio LX, 11; Suet. Claud. xviii; Tac. Ann. xi. 4; xiii.43; see Mommsen, Provinces of the Roman Empire, chapter ix; and Conybeare and Howson, Life and Epistles of Paul, I).
J. Hutchison
klo'-di-us lis'-i-as (Klaudios Lysias): A chief captain who intervened when the Jews sought to do violence to Paul at Jerusalem (Ac 21:31;