Claudius in Smiths Bible Dictionary

(lame), fourth Roman emperor, reigned from 41 to 54 A.D. He was nominated to the supreme power mainly through the influence of Herod Agrippa the First. In the reign of Claudius there were several famines, arising from unfavorable harvests, and one such occurred in Israel and Syria. Ac 11:28-30 Claudius was induced by a tumult of the Jews in Rome to expel them from the city. cf. Ac 18:2 The date of this event is uncertain. After a weak and foolish reign he was poisoned by his fourth wife, Agrippina, the mother of Nero, October 13, A.D. 54.