The First Century

Messalina envies the spectacular gardens of Lucullus which have come into the possession of Asiaticus who had served as consul twice, once most recently in 46. To acquire these gardens, she arranges for the accusation and execution of Asiaticus. But he is not the only one to suffer consequences. 
 
SHOWNOTES
This episode is based on Tacitus, Annals, 11.1-3
For more on the Gardens of Lucullus, see Cassius Dio 61.31; Plutarch, Life of Lucullus, 39.
An image of the gardens in ancient Rome, including the gardens of Lucullus.
 
 

The Romans increase their presence in Britannia with the founding of Londinium on the north side of a river. Claudius named Tiberius Alexander procurator of Judea, and he ensures potential problems are dealt with swiftly. This in turn leads to a slight shift in policy as the Sanhedrin attempts to manage the sect of the Nazorean. Paul and Barnabas are sent on mission from Antioch in Syria, and they are accompanied by John Mark for part of their journey. 
 
SHOWNOTES:
An illustration of early Londinium https://www.artstation.com/rocioespin
Tiberius Alexander (Josephus, Antiquities, 20.5.2)
Gamaliel and the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:34-39)
Church in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3)
Some of those persecuted by Paul had gone to Cyprus (Acts 11:19)
Barnabas from Cyprus (Acts 4:34-38)
Mission of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:14-55)
 

The empress Messalina continued to carry on affairs without Claudius' knowledge and in violation of Roman law. She also thwarts Seneca's attempt to return from exile. 
The prestigious city of Pergamum in Asia is evangelized by Nicolas of Antioch, the deacon, who attempts to live a celibate marriage but ultimately reverses course. 
 
SHOWNOTES:
Seneca, De Consolatione Ad Polybium
On Messalina and Mnester (Tacitus, Annals 11.35; Dio Cassius 60.22.3-5)
Pergamum and its library (Strabo, Geography, 13.4.2; Plutarch, Life of Anthony, 58.5)
Parchment (pergamena) at Pergamum (Strabo, Geography, 13.4.2; Pliny, Natural History, 5.126)
Nicolas of Antioch (Acts 6:1-7; Rev 2:1-6,15; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.26.3; Clement of Alexandria, Stomata, 3.25-26; Hippolytus, Refutation, 7.24; Epiphanius, Panarion, 25.1.1-6; 25.3).

The capital city of the province of Asia seemed ripe for evangelization. Apollos, an Alexandrian Jewish convert to Christianity, educated in an allegorical way of reading sacred texts, took the lead. 
 
SHOWNOTES
Destruction of the earlier Temple of Artemis on the day Alexander the Great was born (Plutarch, Life of Alexander, 3.3)
On the construction of the Temple by Chersiphon, assisted by Artemis herself (Pliny, Natural History, 36.21.95)
Artemis as "Queen of Wild Beasts" (Homer, Iliad, 21.470) 
Mark Antony and Cleopatra in Ephesus (Plutarch, Life of Antony, 23.1-24.12; 56.1-10)
Model of the Temple of Artemis: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/180/model-of-the-temple-of-artemis/ 
Apollos (Acts 18:24-19:17)
Hymenaios, Philetos, and Alexander (1 Tim 1:19-20; 2 Tim 2:16-18; 4:14)

Shortly after Fadus was appointed procurator of Judea, Claudius sent a new governor of Syria, Cassius Longinus. Together they faced a tense situation in Jerusalem calling for Roman legions. Theudas the magician arose about that time too, but he was beheaded and his movement crushed. The prophesied famine also struck Jerusalem. Christians there had been well-resourced by those from Antioch. Other residents of Jerusalem benefitted from the generosity of a recent convert, Helen, queen of Adiabene. 
 
SHOWNOTES:
Cassius Longinus as governor of Syria (Jos. Ant. 20.1)
Theudas the Magician (Jos. Ant. 20.5.1; Acts 5:36)
Famine in Jerusalem (Jos. Ant. 20.2.5; 20.5.2)

Barnabas and Paul continue their work in Antioch. The Jerusalem church faces a persecution by Herod Agrippa who executes James the apostle. Seeing how well received that action was, he then arrested Simon Peter and intended to execute him as well, but he escaped. 
Herod Agrippa hosted games in honor of Claudius and the Judean king was lauded profusely before succumbing to aches and dying a week later. Various interpretations of his death were forthcoming. He left behind a seventeen year old son, Herod Agrippa II (b. 27), and three daughters, Berenice II (b. 28), Mariamne VI (b. 35), and Drusilla (b 38). Herod Agrippa II was in Rome and Claudius considered him too young to be given the kingdom, so the princeps appointed a procurator and gave him specific orders, which would lead to trouble. 
SHOWNOTES:
Assistance from the church of Antioch to the church of Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30).
Execution of James and arrest of Peter (Acts 12:1-17)
Death of Herod Agrippa (Jos. Ant. 19.8.2; Acts 12:19-23)
Pilate Stone, found in Caesarea Maritima in 1961: 
[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIEUM
[...PONTI]US PILATUS
[...PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E
[...FECIT D]E[DICAVIT]
Translation:
To the Divine Augustus [this] Tiberieum
...Pontius Pilate
...prefect of Judea
...[made this and d]e[dicated it]
The Tiberieum is considered to have been the thing made and dedicated to the Divine Augustus. 
The Pilate Stone – Discover Historic Jesus

Agrippina returned from Ephesus with her second husband Passienus and her young son. She encouraged her husband to name her as his sole heir, which he did, only to die shortly thereafter. The 28-year-old second time imperial widow was now one of the wealthiest women in Rome. 
In this short episode we'll also attempt to untangle some of the complicated relations among the imperial family.
This chart from the wikipedia page might help: JulioClaudian - Julio-Claudian dynasty - Wikipedia

The church in Antioch continued to experience significant growth, attracting Gentiles as well as Jews. Those Christians in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check on things in Antioch, and he secured Paul from Tarsus to help him with the mission there. Christians were offering assistance to those in need as a way of expressing their belief that Jesus had been sent by God. Material wealth counted for little when Jesus would be returning soon. 
Claudius's brother had gained fame and even the name Germanicus by defeating German tribes. Now Claudius decided to invade Britannia 'for real' as opposed to Caligula's mere gathering of seashells from the coast. The military action went well, assisted by at least two leading generals, Vespasian and Aulus Plautius. Claudius was able to celebrate a proper triumph in Rome and his son was renamed, Britannicus. 
 
SHOWNOTES:
For Christians in Antioch and Paul's own background: Gal 1:21; Acts 8:3; Acts 11:19-26; 13:1)
Tarsus as a free city (Appian, Civil War, 5.7)
Christians not knowing the day or time of Jesus' return (Luke 12:36-48)
Claudius' invasion of Britannia and the generals who assisted (Dio, Roman History, 60.21.2). 

Messalina continued to use her power to surreptitiously attack potential rivals, secure alliances, and manipulate her husband. She also succeeds in eliminating her own stepfather after he spurned her advances.   
King Herod Agrippa chooses a new high priest and deals mercifully with a critic.
SHOWNOTES
Elimination of Julia Livia and the public mourning of Pomponia Graecina (Tacitus, Annals, 13.43; Suetonius, Claudius, 29; Cassius Dio, Roman History, 60.18.4)
Herod Agrippa's activities in Judea (Josephus, Antiquities, 19.6.4; 19.7.2-4).
Claudius' Character (Suetonius, Claudius, 33; Cassius Dio, 60.18)
Messalina and her stepfather Appius Silanus (Suetonius, Claudius 37; Cassius Dio 60.14)

Herod Agrippa deftly managed a potential crisis by lobbying the Roman governor of Syria, Petronius to defend the rights of Jews so recently made clear by imperial decree.
Claudius deifies Livia, years after her death and also allowed the return of exiled Gaius Calpurnius Piso, who uses his newfound freedom to seduce the wife of a friend. 
Roman senators stationed in the east as governors hatch a plot to overthrow Claudius. After a moment of weakness, Claudius stands firm and the coup fails. 
SHOWNOTES
Events in Dor, including the letter from Petronius (Josephus. Antiquities. 19.6.3).
Piso seducing Atria Gallia from her husband Domitius Silus (Tacitus, Annals, 4.34).
Failed plot against Tiberius, and Arria's famous last words (Pliny, Letters, 3.6; Tacitus, Annals 16.34; Cassius Dio 60.16.5-6; Marial 1.13.5).