Augustus
Augustus, also known as Caesar, was the Roman emperor during the time of Jesus' birth and early life (Luk 2:1; 3:1; Act 25:21, 25; 27:1).
Biography
Gaius Octavius, known to history as Caesar Augustus, was the first and most powerful of Rome's emperors, ruling from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. In Scripture he is remembered chiefly because his decree that all the Roman world should be registered for taxation compelled Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Micah 5:2 regarding the Messiah's birthplace (Lk 2:1). His name surfaces again in Luke 3:1 and Acts 25-27 in establishing historical chronology. Augustus presided over the Pax Romana, an era of relative peace and imperial stability, which providentially created the conditions of open roads, common language, and centralized administration that would soon facilitate the spread of the gospel.
Significance
Augustus stands as a striking example of how God sovereignly employs the decisions of powerful rulers to accomplish his redemptive purposes without their knowledge or consent. The emperor's bureaucratic census decree became the instrument by which the Messiah was born in the city of David, fulfilling centuries-old prophecy. His reign inaugurated the Pax Romana, the very historical context in which the early church would carry the gospel across the Mediterranean world. Augustus embodies the biblical truth that earthly kingdoms and their rulers ultimately serve the kingdom of God, however unwittingly, a theme woven throughout Daniel, the Psalms, and the Apocalypse.
Verse Appearances (5)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]