Rome’s Letters for the Jews Abroad

Now the cities were mistreating the Jews in Asia, and all those of the same nation who lived in Libya next to Cyrene, although the earlier kings had given them equal rights with the other citizens. At this time the Greeks were insulting them, going so far as to take away their sacred money and to do them harm on other particular occasions. Being so afflicted, and finding no end to the inhumanity they met with from the Greeks, they sent envoys to Caesar about these matters. He granted them the same rights they had had before, and sent letters to the same effect to the governors of the provinces. I attach copies of them here, as evidence of the favorable attitude the Roman emperors have had toward us from of old.

“Caesar Augustus, high priest, holder of the tribune’s power, decrees as follows. Since the nation of the Jews has been found grateful to the Roman people, not only at this time but in time past as well, and especially Hyrcanus the high priest under my father Caesar the imperator, it has seemed good to me and my counselors, according to the vote and oath of the people of Rome, that the Jews may follow their own customs according to the law of their forefathers, as they followed them under Hyrcanus, high priest of God Most High; that their sacred money not be touched, but be sent to Jerusalem and handed over to the treasurers at Jerusalem; and that they not be obliged to give security for a court appearance on the Sabbath, or on the day of preparation before it after the ninth hour. If anyone is caught stealing their holy books or their sacred money, whether from a synagogue or from a meeting hall, he shall be counted guilty of sacrilege, and his property shall be confiscated to the public treasury of the Romans. I also order that the testimonial they have given me, on account of the piety I show toward all humankind, and out of regard for Gaius Marcius Censorinus, together with the present decree, be set up in the most prominent place that has been consecrated to me by the league of Asia at Ancyra. And if anyone breaks any part of what is decreed above, he shall be severely punished.” This was inscribed on a pillar in the temple of Caesar. [a]

“Caesar to Norbanus Flaccus, greetings. Let the Jews, however many they are, who have been accustomed by their ancient custom to send their sacred money to Jerusalem, do so freely.” These were Caesar’s decrees.

Agrippa himself also wrote as follows on behalf of the Jews: “Agrippa to the magistrates, senate and people of Ephesus, greetings. It is my will that the care and custody of the sacred money carried to the temple at Jerusalem be left to the Jews of Asia, to deal with according to their ancient custom; and that those who steal the sacred writings of the Jews and flee to a sanctuary be dragged from it and handed over to the Jews, by the same law by which those guilty of sacrilege are dragged from it. I have also written to Silanus the praetor that no one is to compel a Jew to give security for a court appearance on the Sabbath.” [g]

“Marcus Agrippa to the magistrates, senate and people of Cyrene, greetings. The Jews of Cyrene have appealed to me to have carried out what Augustus ordered Flavius, then praetor of Libya, and the other procurators of that province: that their sacred money may be sent to Jerusalem freely, as has been their custom from their forefathers. They complain that they are abused by certain informers, and are prevented from sending it under the pretense of taxes that were not owed. I command that it be restored to them without their being troubled in any way. And if sacred money has been taken from any of the cities, I order those appointed to these matters to set it right for the Jews there.” [i]

“Gaius Norbanus Flaccus, proconsul, to the magistrates of Sardis, greetings. Caesar has written to me and commanded me not to forbid the Jews from collecting money, however much it may be, according to the custom of their forefathers, and sending it to Jerusalem. I have therefore written to you so that you may know that both Caesar and I wish you to act accordingly.” [j]

Nor did Julius Antonius, the proconsul, write otherwise: “To the magistrates, senate and people of Ephesus, greetings. As I was administering justice at Ephesus on the Ides of February, the Jews who live in Asia showed me that Augustus and Agrippa had permitted them to follow their own laws and customs, and to bring the first fruits that each of them freely offers to the Deity out of piety, carrying them together in a company to Jerusalem without disturbance. They also asked me to confirm by my own sanction what Augustus and Agrippa had granted. I therefore wish you to know that, in keeping with the will of Augustus and Agrippa, I permit them to live and act according to the customs of their forefathers without disturbance.” [l]

I have been obliged to set down these decrees because this history of our affairs will be read for the most part by Greeks, and I have shown them by it that we were held in great esteem in former times, and were not forbidden by the rulers we were under to keep any of the laws of our forefathers; indeed, that we were supported by them while we followed our own religion and the worship we pay to God. I mention these decrees often in order to reconcile other people to us, and to remove the causes of the hatred that has taken root in the unreasonable among both us and them. As for customs, no nation always keeps the same ones, and almost every city has customs different from the next. But natural justice is most to the advantage of all people alike, Greeks and barbarians, and our laws have the greatest regard for it; if we keep them purely, they make us kindly and friendly to all people. On this account we have reason to expect the same in return from others, and to tell them that they ought not to treat a difference in established institutions as a cause of estrangement, but should look to the pursuit of virtue and uprightness. For this belongs to all people in common, and is by itself enough to preserve human life. I now return to the thread of my history. [m]