The Historical

Background of Jesus’
Time
 Geography of Palestine
The Land of Jesus, what we today call
( Israel and part of Jordan now). This Land is
often referred to in Scriptures as Land of Israel,
and in Jesus’ time, it was called “ The Land of
Canaan”, “The Promised Land”
The Greeks named it Palestine after the
Philistines who had occupied the coastal area at
one time.
Palestine is considered the heart of Orient
because it was here the most biblical events
took place.
Galilee
The region of the Northern
Palestine, is where most of the
events of Synoptic Gospels
occurred. Jesus spent most of his
life and ministry here. Galilee is
more prosperous and populated
than Judea.
 Famous towns of Galilee
• Bethsaida- Birthplace of the Apostles : Peter, Andrew
and Philip ( Jn 1:44)
- Scene of the Cure of a Blind Man
( Mk 8:22-26)
• Chorazin- Jesus denounce this unrepentant town
(Mt.11:21)
• Cana- Jesus turned the water into wine ( Jn 2:1-11)
• Capernaum- Jesus began his public ministry in this city
(Mk. 1:21ff)
- Cure the Paralytic Man ( Mk. 2 :1ff)
Scene of the Healing of the Centurion’s
servant ( Mt. 28:5-13)
• Magdala- Hometown of Mary Magdalene ( Lk 28:
2)
• Mt. Tabor- Scene of the Transfiguration of
Jesus (Lk. 9:28-36)
• Nain- Raising to life of the Widow’s only son ( Lk.
7:11-16)
• Nazareth- scene of the Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary
(Lk 1:26-38)
- Jesus spent His Childhood until His public
Ministry ( Lk 2:39-46)
Sea of Galilee- Simon Peter’s call and
Miraculous Catch of Fish ( Lk 5:1-17)
- Calming of the Storm
(Lk 8:22-25)
- Jesus Walked on the
water ( Jn 6:16-21)
Tiberias- known also as the Sea of Galilee
 Samaria
• The name “Samaria derives from an ancient city
of the same name, which is located near the South
of Samaria, and was the capital of the Kingdom
of Israel. In his time, Jesus travelled through
Samaria from Galilee on his way to Jerusalem. In
Lk 17:11-19 narrates how Jesus cleansed Ten
Leapers whose ingratitude “hurt” Him because
only one come back to Him to say thank you after
being healed.
• Sychar/ Shechem- Jesus conversed with the
Samaritan woman near Jacob’s well. ( Jn 4:5-42)
• Mt. Gerizim- The center of Samaritan cult during
the time of Jesus ( Jn 4:20,21)
 Judea
• It is the province where Jesus was born and
where he died. The Jews who returned from the
their exile in Babylon and who mostly belonged
to the tribe of Judah inhabited the place. The
following are significant places in relation to
Jesus’ life and ministry:
• Arimathea- Hometown of Joseph ( Mt. 27:57-
60)
• Bethany- Birthplace of Jesus’ best friends :
Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Jn 11-1)
• - Jesus Dined in the house of
Simon the Leaper ( Mk 14:3)
• Jesus spent Nights in this town
during his last week ( Mt. 21:17)
Bethlehem- Birthplace of Jesus ( Lk 2:4-15)
Dead Sea- Known as Salt Sea ( Gen. 14:3)
Emmaus- Apparition of the Risen Lord to His
Disciple ( Lk 24:13)
Gethsemane- known also Mt. of Olives, Scene
of Jesus’ Agony and Arrest ( Mt. 26:36)
Golgotha- Known as the Place of the Skull,
Scene of Jesus’ crucifixion( (Jn. 19:17)
Jericho- Hometown of Zaccheus ( Lk 19:1-3)
Healing of the Blind Man
Bartimeaus ( Mt. 20:29-3:1)
Scene of the Parable of the Good
Samaritan (Lk 10:29-33)
• Jerusalem- David captured this city from Jebusites.
Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem ( 2 Sam 5:6-9)
• Qumran- Center of Essenes
• Jordan River- Jesus was Baptized by John the Baptist.
( Mt 3:13-17)
• Decapolis
Is the region of Transjordan which is designated as the league of the Hellenistic
cities under the administrations of the Romans.

• Gardara/Gerasa
• Was where Jesus cured a demoniac ( Mt. 8:28; Mk 5:1 and Lk 8:26)
Perea
• Is also known in the gospel as “beyond the
Jordan”. It is one of the two provinces of
Transjordan, strategically located eastside of
Jordan and North of the Dead Sea (Mk 2:8; Mt
4:15). In the Old Testament times, the region
was inhabited by the Tribes of Moab, Ammon,
Gilead and Bashan.
Idumea
• Is the province located South of Judea. It’s name was taken after the Edomites,
descendants of Esau. Herod the Great, the king of Jews, belonged to a leading
Idumean family.
Phoenicia

• Is a strip of coastland along the Mediterranean from the

river Eleutherus to the North and Carmel of the South.
The inhabitants were known for their maritime
undertakings and famous for shipbuilding and dye
making. Tyre and Siddon, two of its famous cities, were
known for their deep-seated paganism. Jesus performed
miracles condemned these cities along with the Chorazin
Caeseria Phillippi
• Renamed from Paneas and rebuilt by Philip in honor of the Roman emperor, was
the site of the scene of Peter’s great confession of Jesus as Messiah ( Mt. 16:13;
Mk 8:27)
The Jewish political and Cultural Life
• Government
One of the reason the Romans built such as powerful
empire in their days was the wise way in which they
governed the people they conquered. When they defeated a
country and took control of it, the Romans would carefully
select leaders from among the conquered people
themselves ( self quasi rule)
Pompey, who besieged and took Jerusalem in 63 B.C., put
and end to the last period of Jewish Independence under the
Hasmoneans dynasty in Israel. By 37 B.C., with the
Herodian monarchy and the consolidation if the Roman
power in the region, Palestine was relatively peaceful and
prosperous
Herod the Great
• a half- Jew because of Idumean origin,
was proclaimed as the King of the Jews by
Octavian in 31 B.C. His territory included
Idumea, Judea, Samaria, the coastal plain (
to Caesaria), Galilee, Perea and the
districts north and east to the Sea of
Galilee.
• He never gained the affection or even
respect of the Jews. In relation, he enjoyed
the status, rex socius or allied king. His
reign was marked by great constructions.
The rebuilding of the temple in 20 B.C.,
was his most ambitious project.
• Herod was very suspicious by nature. Obsessed by
his power, he reacted violently. He killed his wife
Marianne; put to death his mother-in-law,
Alexandria, on charge of plotting against him in 28
B.C., he likewise strangled his son Antipater shortly
before his death. Finally, he died at Jericho in
March/April, 4 B.C., and was buried in the
Herodium near Bethlehem.
• After his death, Herod’s kingdom was divided
among his sons ( Archelaus, Philip and Antipas)
subject to the approval of Augustus but will named
Archelaus only as ethnarch , not a King.
The Roman Procurator
• Pontius Pilate, who governed between 23 until
36 A.D. , irritated and provoked the Jews for
Bringing the imperial standard into Jerusalem
which he did the following ways: (1) placing
shields bearing the emperor’s name on the
walls of Herod’s palace, (2) requisitioning
funds from the temple for the construction of
aqueducts in the city and (3) killing the
Samaritans who were looking for sacred
vessels which Moses left at Mt. Gerizim in 29
A.D. Pontius Pilate was later suspended by the
order of Vitellus, legate of Syria (35-39 A.D.)
and condemned to exile or committed suicide.
Taxes
• Were heavily imposed on the Jews. This
were charged on the produce of the land, on
men, property, sale of animals, an all
transportation of goods across boundaries.
In addition, Jewish males had to pay a half-
shekel as supported for the Jerusalem
Temple. Religious law also prescribed
“taxes” to the priest and Levites. “ Head
tax” was applied to all who were directly
subject to Romans. In Jesus’ time, head tax
was approximately a day’s wage. Publicans
were responsible in collecting taxes; for the
Jews, these publicans or tax collectors were
the grossest robbers.
• Language
• Hebrew ( sacred language), Aramaic ( language of
ordinary people), Greek ( universal language of the
Roman Empire) and Latin ( language of the Roman
soldiers)

• Education
• Rabbis served as teachers of young male Jews.
Children received instruction in reading, writing,
geography and history through studying the
Scriptures ( The Law of Moses and the Prophets ).
The Jewish Religious and Political Groups

• Sadducees, a social class which belonged to the

wealthy priestly and influential families occupying political
positions. From their circle, the high priests were chosen.
• The Sadducees were very conservative in religious matters ( they
accepted only the Torah) but liberal in politics ( they were willing
to compromise with people holding power in order to preserved
their status).
• They strictly observed temple worship during Sabbath and rejected
the oral tradition, denied the existence of angels, and devils, as well
as the resurrection of the dead, personal immortality and
recompense beyond the grave.
Pharisees
• A religious sect which probably originated
from the Hasidim group, were known as “the
separated ones”. ( Hebrew: p’rushim) due their
exact and detailed knowledge of the Mosaic
Law ( both written and oral). Their members
came from the middle class: the scribes, and
devout laymen.
• They were considered as champions of the
Torah due to their withdrawal from political
activity. They were conservative in politics
( no compromise with people in power) and
progressive in religious matters ( created and
extensive oral commentary on the Law for the
people to live it more fully.)
• They took pride in their knowledge and observance of
the law which oftentimes led them to self-
righteousness. Among others, they believed in the
resurrection of the dead, the judgement after death,
the existence of Spirits and angels; furthermore, they
stressed God’s providence and human freedom
Zealots
• An anti-Roman party, were Jewish
fanatics who combined religion
and nationalism. Being extremely
nationalistic, they fought against
foreign oppressors, opposed
census and taxes, assassinated the
Romans and punished Jewish
collaborators. For them, Jewish
independence would only be
possible through a military
overthrow on their oppressors, the
Romans.
Essenes
• An offshoot of Hasidim whose name means “the pious ones” live with great
respect for the Torah ( living in extreme exactness demands of the Law); they
separated themselves from Jewish societies in order to maintain their strict
religious practices. Though they rejected Temple sacrifice, they also sent offerings
to the Temple. They lived celibate, poor and obedient life and condemned the
Roman power. They believed in the immortality of the soul, the illegitimacy of the
high priest in Jerusalem, and in the dictum: “ Love one’s members, hate
outsiders”.
Scribes
• They were known as educated servants,
writer's and interpreters of the Law of Moses;
they were guardians of the historical, judicial,
wisdom and prophetic patrimony of Israel.
They were considered the doctors of the Law
of Moses ( experts in the Sacred Book), as
well as rabbi.
Priest and High Priest
• Priest, a group originating as far back as Moses
time, were guardians of worship and go-betweens or
intermediaries between God and people in offering
sacrifices in the temple. One could be qualified
candidate if he possessed the following
qualifications: coming from a certain tribe, although
respectability often went along with wealth and
social prestige.
• High Priest, was the head of priestly class and the
president of the Sanhedrin. Appointed by the
political leaders of the country ( sometimes money
entered to the selection) and anointed like a king.
• The high priest lived in a grand palace and
dressed in very colorful and recognizing
clothing. He was considered as a spiritual leader
of his people and held a very special king of
authority and great influence among the people.
Sanhedrin
• Was considered as the official religious, political
and judicial body of Jews that was recognized by
the Romans. It condemned and punished
criminals although not with capital punishment
which needed approval by the Romans.
• Jews of Diaspora, referred to the Jews living
outside Palestine during and after Babylonian
exile.
• Outcast, comprised of the Samaritans( Half-
Jewish) , publicans ( Tax collectors) prostitutes,
criminals, sinners, robbers, and the lepers( the
worst one)
The Jewish and religious Life and
customs
• Temple, it was built by Herod the Great 15 years before the birth of
Christ and completed 35 years after Jesus’ death. It was considered
as the house of prayer and the center of religious sacrifices as well
as of celebration of major Jewish feast.
• Synagogue, it was place of worship which held the Jewish people
together as a community of faith. Each village had at least one
synagogue which could be erected by an adult Jew. Precious scrolls
containing the Hebrew Scriptures were kept there. The synagogue
opened three times a day for prayer and occasional gathering.
Weekly Sabbath worship was the chief gathering in a synagogue.
Sabbath
• Was a weekly day of rest for the Jews based on the Genesis
story of creation. It began at sunset of Friday and ended at the
daylight hours of Saturday. No housework and no labor of any
kind were allowed on a Sabbath. It was not lawful for the Jews
to light a fire even if Sabbath lamps were supposed to be
lighted.
• Prayer life of a Jew. A faithful Jew is expected to live a personal
prayer at home; he prays every dawn, morning, noon, mid-
afternoon, evening and nightfall. He should recite Shema Prayer
at dawn and nightfall: “ Hear , O Israel! The Lord is God, the Lord
alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord our God with all your
heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
 Hebrew Scriptures
• contained the ancient and sacred stories and teachings
of the people of Israel that were passed on orally from
generation ad which developed over 800 years before
being compiled. The Jewish people are known as the
“People of the Book” because of their commitment to
the Scriptures.
 Family
• Children were considered blessings. To be childless was a curse
for the Jews. Boys were more desirable than girls. Women stayed
at home and were rarely taught how to read and write. They had
no official part in the synagogues and were expected to cover
their heads in public places. They were allowed to marry at the
age of 12. Parents arranged their daughters’ marriages.

House
• was made of stone and held together by mud and straw. The roof
was flat could be reached through outside steps for drying
clothes, dinning and prayer purposes. A typical Jewish house had
a single door with no windows and very low ceiling; it was
usually dark it consisted only two rooms.
• Food Jewish staple food was bread ( barely for the poor and wheat for the wealthy).
Foods were highly-spiced and sweetened with honey. Milk from sheep or goat and
vegetables were abundant in Jewish homes. Fruits and nuts were diet supplements. Eggs
and meat were extra items

• Time their Timepiece was the sun. The length of the day was measured from sunset
to sunrise. Daytime was known as “hour” while nighttime was called “watch”

• Calendar the Jewish calendar was patterned after the Canaanite calendar for the
substance and Babylonian one for the names of the months. Months: NISSAN ( 16Mar-15
Apr) IYYAR (16Apr-15May) SIWAM (16May-15Jun) TAMMUZ ( 16Jun-15Jul) AB
( 16Jul-15Aug) ELUL (16Aug-15Sept) TISHRI (16Sept-15Oct) MARSHESHWAN
(16Oct-15Nov) KISLEV (16Nov-15Dec) TEBET (16Dec-15Jan) SHEBAT (16Jan-
15Feb) and ADAR (16Feb-15Mar.)
The Jewish Religious
Feast
• These festivals were occasions for
Jews to glorify, thank and petition
Yahweh, their God.
 PENTECOST ( SHAVUOT)
• It also called the “Feast of Weeks” was a more popular festival than the Passover. The
feast celebrated the harvest time for the Jews, a time of experience and expressing deep
gratitude for the wonderful gifts of Yahweh. Leviticus 23: 9-22 prescribe that an offering
be brought fifty days after the “omer”. The omer was the grain offering that marked the
beginning of the spring grain harvest and eventually ended at Pentecost. The word
Pentecost is a Greek word for “ Fiftieth” and it reflects the fact that it was fifty days after
leaving Egypt that Moses received the Law
• Pentecost is a Christian holiday which it commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit
upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem
celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.
 YOM KIPPUR ( THE DAY OF
ATONEMENT)
• Was the second major feast and one of such central importance of the Jews that if a person
simply mentioned “ The Day” everyone knew that it referred to this special feast. This
was a period of serious repentance before God ( Lev 23:23-32). In ancient times, The Day
was a marked by special sacrifices.
 FEAST OF TABERNACLES
( SHUKKOTH)
• Was the third agricultural festival. It celebrated the fall harvest ( Ex 23:16). Leviticus
23:29-43 prescribed a seven-day festival like the Passover. The people were to dwell in
hunts during the festival and come to the Temple waving branches of citron, palm, myrtle,
and willow while singing praises to God.
 PASSOVER ( PESAH)
• The Holiest and most celebrated feast commemorated the miraculous liberation of
Israelites from Egypt. The Israelites were told to remember forever what God had done
for them.
FEAST OF DEDICATION OR FEAST OF
LIGHTS (HANNUKAH)
• Originated in the second century B.C., commemorates the rededication of the Jewish
Temple. It is an eight-day modeled after Sukkoth ( Feast of the Tabernacles) which the
people had been unable to celebrate when the Temple was desecrated by Pagan hands
 ROSH-HA-SHANAH (JEWISH NEW
YEAR)
• A celebration which is marked by self-examination and penitential prayer for forgiveness.
 PURIM
• Commemorates Queen Esther's defeat of a plan to slaughter all Persian Jews, ca. 400
BCE, as told in the Book of Esther.
• In modern Judaism, the entire Book of Esther read on the day of Purim. It is a time of
great celebration, with noisemakers, costumes, etc. (somewhat equivalent to Western
"Carnival" or "Mardi Gras" festivities).