FROM HISTORY 


STATE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE


 AT THE 


BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.



THE affairs of the political world, at the birth of the Saviour, were in a peculiar condition. For centuries, the nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa, had been convulsed by internal war and strife. Now, those wars had terminated. All nations had been gathered into one, and were under the influence of the powerful pagan empire of Rome. The kingdom at this time embraced the best parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Its revenues were immense.

The king was highly honored by the great men of all countries. The king of Parthia sent to him the spoils of the arm; of Crassus, and the kings of India sought his friendship. The proud Spanish nation was now, for the first time, completely subjugated, and, at last, the rebellious German tribes were quelled, and the temple of Janus, which was closed only in times of profound peace, and which had been open nearly 700 years, was now closed.

It was at this period, and under the circumstances we have just mentioned, that our Saviour was born at Bethlehem in the and of Judea, in the reign of Caesar Augustus.

In early life, he worked with his father at the carpenter's bench, attracting no especial attention. When about thirty years of age he began his ministry by collecting round him a few humble, devoted followers, who listened with profound reverence to that which he taught.

He was crucified in the days of Tiberius Caesar. He arose from the dead, and just before he ascended to Heaven, he commissioned his disciples to go into all the world, visit all nations, and preach the good news of salvation to every creature.

The Jews rejected the gospel, and then it was proclaimed to the Gentiles; and in reaching them it spread all over the Roman empire. Those who embraced it were first called "Christians" at Antioch.  Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, preached the gospel through Asia Minor, Grecia, and at Rome, the capital of the empire.

 




S. H. LANE.