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Tiberius Caesar

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Tiberius Claudius Nero, second emperor of Rome, A

D. 14-37. Stepson of Augustus, a vigorous warrior, eloquent orator, and able statesman, but an indolent, despotic ruler. He is the Caesar of Luke 3:1; 20:22-25; 23:2¹Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, (Luke 3:1)
²²Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? ²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? ²⁴Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. ²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's. (Luke 20:22‑25)
²And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. (Luke 23:2); John 19:12¹²And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. (John 19:12).

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Bust of Tiberius Caesar, Age 46.

Son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia, his name in full being the same as his father’s. He was step-son of Augustus, and was the second emperor of Rome. There is only an incidental reference to him under this name in the New Testament—the fifteenth year of his reign being the time when John the Baptist began his ministry (Luke 3:1¹Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, (Luke 3:1)). His reign is put down as A.D. 14-37, but there is evidence that he reigned two or three years with Augustus, and the above “fifteenth year” is reckoned from the earlier date. By comparing this with verses Luke 3:22-23²²And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. ²³And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (Luke 3:22‑23), it will be seen that it could not have been later than A.D. 25 or 26; for Christ was born four years before the Era A.D., and now He “began to be about 30 years old.” Tiberius was a most profligate man, and his government was despotic and cruel.