Difference between revisions of "Augustus"

<p> [[Augustus]] ( ''Äu-Gŭs'Tus'' ), ''Venerable.'' A title given to the Cæsars by the Roman Senate, first applied in b.c. 27 to C. J. C. Octavianus. This was four years after the battle of Actium. Augustus was the emperor who appointed the enrollment, &nbsp;Luke 2:1, causing [[Joseph]] and Mary to go to Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. He also closed the temple of Janus, in token of the rare occurrence, a universal peace; thus unconsciously celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace. He died a.d. 14, having two years before admitted Tiberius [[Cæsar]] to a share in the government. In &nbsp;Acts 25:21; &nbsp;Acts 25:25, the title (translated the emperor in. R. V.) refers to Nero. </p>

<p> (venerable, Graecized '''''Αὔγουστος''''' .), the imperial title assumed by Octavius, or Octavianus, the successor of Julius Caesar, and the first peacefully acknowledged emperor of Rome. He was emperor at the birth and during half the lifetime of our Lord (B.C. 30 to A.D. 14), but his name occurs only once (&nbsp;Luke 2:1) in the New Testament, as the emperor who appointed the enrolment in consequence of which Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, the place where the Messiah was to be born. (See [[Jesus]]). The successors of the first Augustus took the same name or title, but it is seldom applied to them by the Latin writers. In the eastern part of the empire the Greek '''''Σεβαστός''''' (which is equivalent) seems to have been more common, and hence is used of Nero (&nbsp;Acts 25:21). In later times (after Diocletian) the title of "Augustus" was given to one of the two heirs- apparent of the empire, and "Caesar" to their younger colleagues and heirs- apparent. </p>

<p> ''''' ô ''''' - ''''' gus´tus ''''' Αὔγουστος , <i> ''''' Aúgoustos ''''' </i> ̌ : </p> <p> (1) The first Roman emperor, and noteworthy in Bible history as the emperor in whose reign the [[Incarnation]] took place (&nbsp;Luke 2:1 ). His original name was Caius Octavius Caepias and he was born in 63 bc, the year of Cicero's consulship. He was the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, his mother Atia having been the daughter of Julia, Caesar's younger sister. He was only 19 years of age when Caesar was murdered in the Senate house (44 bc), but with a true instinct of statesmanship he steered his course through the intrigues and dangers of the closing years of the republic, and after the battle of Actium was left without a rival. Some difficulty was experienced in finding a name that would exactly define the position of the new ruler of the state. He himself declined the names of <i> rex </i> and <i> dictator </i> , and in 27 bc he was by the decree of the Senate styled Augustus. The epithet implied respect and veneration beyond what is bestowed on human things: " <i> Sancta vocant augusta patres: augusta vocantur Templa sacerdotum rite dicata manu </i> ." - [[O]] vid Fasti. 609; compare Dion Cass., 5316 </p> <p> The [[Greeks]] rendered the word by Σεβαστός , <i> ''''' Sebastós ''''' </i> , literally, "reverend'" &nbsp;Acts 25:21 , &nbsp;Acts 25:25 ). The name was connected by the Romans with <i> augur </i> - "one consecrated by religion" - and also with the verb <i> augere </i> . In this way it came to form one of the German imperial titles "Mehrer des Reichs" (extender of the empire). The length of the reign of Augustus, extending as it did over 44 years from the battle of Actium (31 bc) to his death (14 ad), doubtless contributed much to the settlement and consolidation of the new régime after the troubled times of the civil wars. </p> <p> It is chiefly through the connection of Judea and [[Palestine]] with the Roman Empire that Augustus comes in contact with early Christianity, or rather with the political and religious life of the [[Jewish]] people at the time of the birth of Christ: "Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled" (&nbsp;Luke 2:1 ). During the reign of Herod the Great the government of Palestine was conducted practically without interference from Rome except, of course, as regarded the exaction of the tribute; but on the death of that astute and capable ruler (4 bc) none of his three sons among whom his kingdom was divided showed the capacity of their father. In the year 6 ad the intervention of Augustus was invited by the [[Jews]] themselves to provide a remedy for the incapacity of their ruler, Archelaus, who was deposed by the emperor from the rule of Judea; at the same time, while [[Caesarea]] was still the center of the Roman administration, a small Roman garrison was stationed permanently in Jerusalem. The city, however, was left to the control of the Jewish [[Sanhedrin]] with complete judicial and executive authority except that the death sentence required confirmation by the Roman procurator. There is no reason to believe that Augustus entertained any specially favorable appreciation of Judaism, but from policy he showed himself favorable to the Jews in Palestine and did everything to keep them from feeling the pressure of the Roman yoke. To the Jews of the eastern [[Diaspora]] he allowed great privileges. It has even been held that his aim was to render them pro-Rom, as a counterpoise in some degree to the pronounced [[Hellenism]] of the East; but in the West autonomous bodies of Jews were never allowed (see Mommsen, <i> Provinces of the Roman Empire </i> , chapter 11). </p> <p> (2) For Augustus in &nbsp;Acts 25:21 , &nbsp;Acts 25:25 the King James Version, see Emperor . </p>

<p> Called at first </p> <p> ltimately </p> <p> he first of the Roman Emperors or Cæsars, grand-nephew of Julius Cæsar, and his heir; joined the Republican party at Cæsar's death, became consul, formed one of a triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus; along with Antony overthrew the Republican party under Brutus and Cassius at Philippi; defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, and became master of the Roman world; was voted the title of "Augustus" by the Senate in 27 B.C.; proved a wise and beneficent ruler, and patronised the arts and letters, his reign forming a distinguished epoch in the history of the ancient literature of Rome (63 B.C.-A.D. 14). </p>