3. THE SURROUNDINGS OF JESUS

1. Geographical Context:

   - Jesus was born in Palestine, a small country similar in size to Massachusetts, approximately 150 miles long and up to 70 miles wide.

   - Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, is about 70 miles from Jerusalem.

2. Political Context:

   - Palestine was part of the Roman Empire, which was ruled by Emperor Augustus during Jesus' time.

   - The Roman Empire, built by Julius Caesar and Augustus, included all Mediterranean countries.

   - Augustus's reign (31 B.C. - A.D. 14) brought peace and prosperity, fostering trade, commerce, and the spread of Christianity.

3. Linguistic Context:

   - Greek was spoken in the eastern Mediterranean, Latin in the west.

   - Jesus and His disciples spoke Aramaic, the common language of the masses and of business, which had replaced Hebrew after the Babylonian captivity.

4. Religious Context:

   - Diverse and often confused religious ideas existed, including the deification of Emperor Augustus and various philosophical schools like Stoicism and Epicureanism.

   - Judaism was widespread, with many Jews and some Gentiles practicing it. Judaism was divided into several sects:

     - Pharisees: Focused on tradition and the hope of a Messiah.

     - Sadducees: Wealthy and influential, denied many traditional beliefs, including the resurrection and the existence of angels.

     - Essenes: Rejected ritualism, lived in seclusion, practiced self-denial, and believed in the immortality of the soul but not bodily resurrection.

5. Purpose of Christ's Coming:

   - Jesus came into this world with its diverse and complex religious landscape to reveal the true God to humanity.