caesar Summary and Overview

the title assumed by the Roman emperors after Julius Caesar. In the New Testament this title is given to various emperors as sovereigns of Judaea without their accompanying distinctive proper names (John 19:15; Acts 17:7). The Jews paid tribute to Caesar (Matt. 22:17), and all Roman citizens had the right of appeal to him (Acts 25:11). The Caesars referred to in the New Testament are Augustus (Luke 2:1), Tiberius (3:1; 20:22), Claudius (Acts 11:28), and Nero (Acts 25:8; Phil. 4:22).

always in the New Testament the Roman emperor, the sovereign of Judea. #Joh 19:12,15; Ac 17:7|

CAE'SAR , the official title of the Roman emperors. It is borrowed from the famous Julius Caesar. It occurs about 30 times in the N. T., and is applied to Augustus, Luke 2:1; Tiberius, Luke 3:1; Claudius, Acts 11:28; and Nero, Acts 25:8. Such Jews as were Roman citizens had the right of appeal to Caesar, Acts 25:11, who was their ruler. See separate names.

The common title of the successive Roman emperors, taken from Julius Caesar. In the New Testament Augustus in Luke 2:1, Tiberius in Luke 3:1, Claudius in Acts 11:28, Nero in Acts 25:11, etc. Roman citizens as Paul had the right of "appeal to Caesar," and in criminal cases were sent for judgment to Rome, where was the emperor's court (Philemon 4:22; compare Philemon 1:13); Nero is the emperor meant. John's exile to Patmos (Revelation 1:9) was probably in Domitian's reign. The current coin bore Caesar's image, the argument which Jesus used to show Caesar could claim tribute (Matthew 22:17, etc.). Though Caesar did not call himself "king," the Jews did (John 19:15), in which respect Josephus (B. J. 5:2, section 2) confirms the gospel undesignedly.