Tacitus and the New Testament part 3

Bernice (also spelled Berenice) is mentioned in three places in Acts as she accompanies her brother, Agrippa II, during Paul’s legal hearing (Acts 25:13, 23; 26:30).  From Josephus’ description (War 2.15.1)she seems to have been a devout Jew who begged Florus, another later governor of Judea, to stop massacring the Jews. Tacitus describes her as quite charming, so much that she even, at one point, attracted the attentions of the future Emperors Vespasian and Titus.

The Histories 2.81

Queen Berenice too, who was then in the prime of youth and beauty, and who had charmed even the old Vespasian by the splendour of her presents, promoted his cause with equal zeal. All the provinces washed by the sea, as far as Asia and Achaia, and the whole expanse of country inland towards Pontus and Armenia, took the oath of allegiance.”

The Histories 2.2

These and like thoughts made him [Titus] waver between hope and fear; but hope triumphed. Some supposed that he retraced his steps for love of Queen Berenice, nor was his young heart averse to her charms, but this affection occasioned no hindrance to action. He passed, it is true, a youth enlivened by pleasure, and practised more self-restraint in his own than in his father’s reign.

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