CHAP. VIII.

SUETONIUS.

1. His history, time, and works. II. The Jews expelled from Rome in the reign of Claudius. III. His account of Nero's persecution. "IV. His testimony to the Jewish war, and the overthrow of the Jewish people. V. Of Domitian's persecution of the christians. VI. The sum of his testimony.

C

I. CAIUS SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS, son of Suetonius Lenis, flourished in the reigns of Trajan and Adrian, to the latter of whom he was secretary: which place he lost about the year 121. Pliny the younger had a particular friendship for him. Several of Pliny's letters still extant are written to him; and he performed for him divers good offices. Suetonius, having no children by his wife, Pliny procured for him from Trajanu jus trium liberorum, or the privilege of those who have three children. His recom mendation of him to the emperor is very affectionate, and exhibits a very amiable character.

e

That he was born about the beginning of the reign of Vespasian, is argued hence-that about twenty years after the death of Nero, or in 88, he speaks of himself as a young It may be supposed therefore, that in the thirteenth of Trajan, or the year of our Lord 110, he was not less than forty years of age.

man.

He was the author of a good number of books, of which there are now none remaining, but his 'Lives of the First Twelve Cæsars,' and a part of a work concerning Illus• trious Grammarians and Rhetoricians.'

a Vid. Voss. de Hist. Lat. 1. i. cap. 26. Bayle, Diction. Hist. et Crit. Suetone. Tillemont, H. Emp. Adrien, art. 24.

b Interfuit huic bello pater meus Suetonius Lenis, tertiæ decimæ legionis tribunus angusticlavius. Sueton. Orthon. c. x.

с

• Scepticio Claro præfecto prætorii, et Suetonio Tranquillo, epistolarum magistros, multisque aliis, qui apud Sabinam uxorem, injussu ejus, familiarius se tunc egerant, quam reverentia domus aulicæ postulabat, successores dedit -Spartian. in Adrian. cap. xi.

d Suetonium Tranquillum, probissimum, honestissimum, eruditissimum virum, et mores ejus secutus et studia, jampridem, Domine, in contubernium assumpsi, &c. Plin. 1. x. ep. 95.

e

Denique cum post viginti annos, adolescente me, exstitisset conditionis incertæ, qui se Neronem esse jactaret, &c. Sueton. in Neron. cap. ult.

VOL. VI.

2 T

II. Suetonius, in the life of the emperor Claudius, who reigned from the year 41 to 54, says of him: Hef banished the Jews from Rome, who were continually making disturbances, Chrestus being their leader."

h

This passage undoubtedly confirms what is said, Acts xviii. 2, that" Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome." Some learned men are not satisfied that this relates to the christians; but it is well known that our Saviour was sometimes called Chrestus by heathen people. And it is not impossible that the Jewish enmity against those of their own country, or others who had embraced christianity, might produce some disputes and disturbances which came to the emperor's knowledge. This seems to be the meaning of Suetonius, that there were disturbances among the Jews and others at Rome, upon occasion of Christ and his followers.'

If this passage were clear, we should have a testimony from an heathen author of good note, that there were christians at Rome before the end of the reign of Claudius; as indeed we know there were from an authentic writer of our own. Acts xviii. 2, and 26. And compare Rom. xvi. And though it should not be reckoned clear and decisive, it has such an appearance of probability as has satisfied many learned men of good judgment.

i

k

This passage of Suetonius is expressly cited by Orosius, a christian historian of the fifth century. But he was not clear about the meaning of it.

III. In the life of Nero, whose reign began in 54, and

f Judæos, impulsore Chresto, assidue tumultuantes, Româ expulit. Claud. cap. 25. • See Vol. i. p. 259. h-Perperam Chrestianus pronunciatur a vobis, &c. Tertull. Ap. c. 3. Sed exponenda hujus nominis ratio est, propter ignorantium errorem, qui cum immutatâ literâ Chrestum, solent dicere. Lact. Divin. Inst. 1. 4. c. 7.

Cum dixi supra, sub Judæorum nomine comprehensos christianos, id dixi quod complures ante me, multo me eruditiores. Neque tamen id impedit quo minus durior fuerit conditio christianorum, ut etiam in judaïcâ religione multa novantium, pluresque homines a paganismo abducentium. Quo spectat illud Suetonii de Claudio, Judæos, impulsore Chresto,' (id est, per christianum dogma,) assidue tumultuantes, Româ expulit, &c.' Grot. App. ad. Comm. de Antichristo, p. 499. Vid. et Cellarii Diss. de primo principe christiano, § viii. et Basnag. ann. 51. num. 68. Cleric. H. E. ann. 29. n. xc. Heumanni Diss. de Chresto Suetonii ap. Dissertation. Syll. T. i. p. 536, &c. Kortholt. De Persecut. Ecc. p. 4. Tob. Eckhard. non Christianorum Testimonia, c. 1. S. Havercamp. annot. ad Tertullian. Apol. cap. 3. p. 42.

Claudius Judæos,

* Sed me magis Suetonius movet, qui ait hoc modo. impulsore Christo, assidue tumultuantes, Româ expulit.' Quod utrum contra Christum tumultuantes Judæos coërceri et comprimi jusserit, an etiam christianos simul, velut cognatæ religionis homines, voluerit expelli, nequâquam discernitur. Oros. Hist. l. 7. c. 6.

ended in 68, Suetonius says: "The' christians were punished; a sort of men of a new and magical superstition.'

Suetonius here assures us, that the christian religion was lately arisen, and that it had already gained footing in the empire. From his calling it a magical superstition,' it may be argued that there were some things of an extraordinary nature performed by the christians: or that they endeavoured to justify their embracing the religion of Christ, as of divine original, upon the ground of some wonderful works, which bore testimony to its truth and authority.

have translated the word malefica,' used by Suetonius, 'magical,' agreeably to the judgment of divers learned men. But Mr. Mosheim" thinks the word to be equivalent to 'exitiabilis,' in Tacitus, meaning' pernicious.' The christians were singular in their religious sentiment, and opposed the religious of all nations. The Romans therefore considered them, he thinks, as enemies to all mankind,' and disposed to disturb the public peace.

6

In the word new,' undoubtedly, there is a sting. For, as Tacitus says of the Jews, Whatever might be the origin of their religion, it has the advantage of antiquity.'

That the christians were roughly handled in the reign of Nero, we have seen from Tacitus, a contemporary writer. Nevertheless, it has been observed by some learned inen, that P Suetonius does not say particularly that they were

1 Afflicti suppliciis christiani, genus hominum, superstitionis novæ et maleficæ. Sueton. Nero. cap. 16.

'Maleficos' incantatores, magicis rebus studentes, venenarios, interpretatur Barth. Adv. viii. 17. x. 6, 45, 57.-Pro talibus christianos habuerunt deterrimis Gentiles, forte quia dæmonia illis parebant, et ad illorum contestationem ejiciebantur -Exinde capiendum putat Barthius, Luc. vi. 22. Kui exßadwor тo ovoμa vμwv, s τоvηроv. Nec mirum. Hoc enim genere maleficii' D. Jesum calumniabantur Gentilium accusationes. Arnob. p. 25. Occursurus ⚫ forsitan rursus est cum aliis multis calumniosis illis, et puerilibus vocibus: Magus fuit, clandestinis artibus omnia illa perfecit.' Sed D. Jesu causam satis accurate ibid. agit Arnobius. Pitiscus ad Suetonii locum.

Neque Romanam solum, sed omnium etiam aliarum gentium religiones christiani hostiliter invadebant: ex quo Romani concludebant, sectam christianam non modo præter omnem modum arrogantem, verum paci ac tranquillitati publicæ inimicam, et ad bella civilia cienda aptam esse. Hoc illud est, si recte conjicio, quod Tacitus christianis exprobrat, odium generis hu'mani.' Nec aliunde rationem putem duci debere, cur idem christianorum religionem, superstitionem exitiabilem,' Suetonius autem maleficam,' nominet. Moshem. Instit. H. E. p. 33, 34.

• Hi ritus, quoquo modo inducti, antiquitate defenduntur. Tacit. Hist. 1. 5. cap. 5. p. 518.

» Nec refert, quod Tacitus de iis, quæ in provinciis adversus christianos gesta, sermonem non habeat, cum Suetonius de Nerone, cap. 16, persecutionem ad urbem Romam non restringat. Pagi ann. 64. n. iv.

Et quidem Suetonius, a Nerone afflictos suppliciis christianos' comme

'punished at Rome,' or for setting fire to the city. His expressions are general, and may include more extensive sufferings in the provinces, as well as the city. Of which we have good assurance from divers ancient christian writers.

r

Once more. It may be observed, that Suetonius speaks with approbation of the sufferings which the christians endured in this reign. For they are mentioned together with divers other acts, ordinances, or institutions of Nero, which were entitled to some commendation: as any one will allow who observes the several articles in the same chapter.

S

IV. In his Life of Vespasian, Suetonius writes to this purpose: When Nero went into Achaia, Vespasian was one of the court. But showing a dislike to that emperor's extravagances, he lay under his displeasure, and was apprehensive of the consequences of his resentment. Vespasian therefore retired into a private place at some distance, where an honourable province, with a powerful army, was assigned him. There had been for a long time, all over the east, a prevailing opinion that it was in the fates, [in the decrees or books of the fates,] that at that time some one from Judea should obtain the empire of the world. By the event it appeared that a Roman emperor was meant by that prediction. The Jews, applying it to themselves, went into a rebellion. At first they had such success that they not only overcame their own governor, but also defeated the proconsular governor of Syria who came to his assistance. There being now manifest occasion for a general of great morans, nullam Romani incendii facit mentionem, sed eos genus hominum superstitionis novæ ac maleficæ' appellat. Quæ cum referat Suetonius inter ea, quæ a Nerone instituta fuerant, haud dubium est, quin edictum adversus christianos ab eo tyranno scriptum fuerit, Ruinart. Pr. in Acta Mart. n. 26. p. 32. 9-ac per omnes provincias pari persecutione excruciari imperavit. Oros. 1. 7. cap. 7.

• Id sane ita Suetonio persuasum erat, ut inter ea, quæ aliquâ laude digna a Nerone sancita commemorat, ait, ab ipso fuisse afflictos suppliciis christianos.' Ruinart. Ib. n. 25. p. 29.

• Adhibitus sumtibus modus, &c. eod. cap. 16.

* Peregrinatione Achaïcâ inter comites Neronis, cum, cantante eo, aut discederet sæpius, aut præsens obdormisceret, gravissimam contraxit offensam; prohibitusque non contubernio modo, sed etiam publicâ salutatione, recessit in parvam et deviam civitatem, quoad latenti, etiamque extrema metuenti, provincia cum exercitu oblata est. Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus et constans opinio, esse in fatis, ut eo tempore Judæâ profecti rerum potirentur. Id, de imperatore R. quantum eventu postea prædictum paruit, Judæi ad se trahentes rebellârunt. Cæsoque præposito, legatum insuper Syriæ proconsularem suppetias ferentem raptâ aquilâ fugaverunt. Ad hunc motum comprimendum cum exercitu ampliore, et non instrenuo duce -opus esset, ipse potissi

reputation, and a numerous army, Vespasian was appointed for that service; who, among other commanders under him, had his eldest son Titus. Having put his army into good order, he entered upon the war with great vigour, and not without hazard to his own person, having been slightly wounded in an attack made at one of their towns, and received several darts upon his shield.' Suetonius proceeds to relate the accession of Vespasian to the empire, whilst he was in Judea, and takes notice of what Josephus, one of the Jewish prisoners, had beforehand said to him relating to that matter. And he expressly mentions Vespasian's triumph over the Jews at Rome.

In his life of Titus, he says, that" whilst he yet served under Vespasian, he took Tarichea and Gamala, two strong cities of Judea: and that, having in an engagement lost his own horse, he mounted another, whose rider had been killed in fighting against him.' And he says, that Titus having been left in Judea to complete the reduction of that country, he, in the last siege of Jerusalem, killed seven of the enemy with as many darts: and that he took that city on his daughter's birth day, and was then saluted by the soldiers with the title of emperor.' He also says, ' that TM Titus triumphed at Rome with his father.'

W

Suetonius is a biographer; and therefore does not write of the Jewish war so particularly, as an historian of another character might do: nevertheless, he may be justly reckoned a witness to the fulfilment of our Saviour's predictions concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the overthrow of the Jewish people. He bears testimony to the Jewish war, and the occasion of it; he mentions the generals employed

mum electus est- ·Additis igitur ad copias duabus legionibus, octo alis cohortibus decem, atque inter legatos majore filio assumto, ut primum provinciam attigit, proximas quoque convertit in se; correctâ statim castrorum disciplinâ; uno quoque et altero prælio tam constanter inito, ut in oppugnatione castelli lapidis ictum genu, scuto sagittas aliquot exceperitEt unus ex nobilibus captivis Josephus, cum conjiceretur in vincula, constantissime asseveravit fore, ut ab eodem brevi solveretur, verum jam imperatoretantâque cum famâ in Urbem reversus, acto de Judæis triumpho, consulatus octo veteri addidit. Sueton. Vespasian. cap. 4-8.

-Talis,

" Ex Quæsturæ deinde honore legioni præpositus, Tarichæam et Gamalam, urbes validissimas Judææ, in potestatem redegit; equo quâdam acie sub feminibus amisso, alteroque incenso, cujus rector contra se dimicans occubuerat. Tit. cap. 4.

-et ad perdomandam Judæam relictus, novissimâ Hierosolymorum oppugnatione vii. propugnatores totidem sagittarum confecit ictibus: cepitque eam natali filiæ suæ, tanto militum gaudio ac favore, ut in gratulatione imperatorem eum consalutaverint. Ib. cap. 5.

W

Triumphavit cum patre, Censuramque gessit unâ. Ib. cap. 6.