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Evidence ID: HIS-EV61
Evidence: Jesus' Crucifixion According to Cornelius Tacitus
Summary: First century Roman historian, Cornelious Tacitus, wrote of Jesus and the Christian community in Rome. He was one of the greatest Roman historians of his period. Tacitus makes explicit mention of Jesus' death by crucifixion.
Description: Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 55-120 AD) was considered as the "greatest historian" in the ancient Roman empire.
One of Tacitus' historical publications, the Annals covering the period from 14-68 AD coincides with the life of Jesus. The Annals provides three testimonies of the Jesus and first century Christians.
The Annals (15:44) written in 115 AD recounts the great Roman fire of 64 AD during the reign of Nero. In this account, we learn from the following passages that Jesus was put to death by Pontius Pilate and suffer an excruciating death.
Interpretation 1: "But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Such indeed were the precautions of human wisdom. The next thing was to seek means of propitiating the gods, and recourse was had to the Sibylline books, by the direction of which prayers were offered to Vulcanus, Ceres, and Proserpina. Juno, too, was entreated by the matrons, first, in the Capitol, then on the nearest part of the coast, whence water was procured to sprinkle the fane and image of the goddess. And there were sacred banquets and nightly vigils celebrated by married women. But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order.
Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. [REF-TAC02]
Interpretation 2: Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular. [REF-TAC04]
Another of his historical publications, the Histories was lost and is therefore unavailable for direct reference. Although, reference is later made to Tacitus' Histories by the Christian historians Sulpicus Severus (ca. 363-425 AD). In his writings from Chronicles (2:30.6), he wrote of Jesus and Christians.
(1) "Then Herod, a foreigner, the son of Antipater from Ascalon, he took possession of the kingdom of Judea by the senate and the Roman people begged them. this was the first king of the Jews have begun to have the external. We have now for the leaders of the coming of Christ, it was necessary to be deprived of them with their own, according to the prophecies of the prophets, that Christ will not say more to wait for. (2) Under this Eroude year of the third and 30, and Sabine Born Gold consuls, 8 Kai. January. (3) However, these things, which are contained in the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and from then on, he did not dare to touch, not to what the form of the dignities of things, they were cut to impair the work, the rest of the skies. (4) After the birth of the Lord had ruled for 4; For all of his time and a man of 30 years. After him, the ruler Archclaus 9 years, 20 years and had 4. (5) This ruling, in its eighteenth year, the cross was fixed, and Rubellius Fufius Geminus; how long until Stilico consul for 372 years." (Unfortunately, this was translation poorly from Latin to English by Google Translator). [REF-SS01]
In these passages, we learn several facts about Jesus:
* For more extra-biblical evidence regarding Jesus' death and resurrection, please visit the following: [HIS-EV62] [HIS-EV63] [HIS-EV66].
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