Judaea Capta Coin Uncovered in Bethsaida Excavations

mikhen7

Freed By Christ to Serve Christ
I thought you all may be interested in this if you enjoy archaeology. Agrippa II is the King to who Paul declared his innocence in Acts 25:14-22. One commentary states, He was an expert on Jewish affairs (see Acts 26:3,27,31), and Festus was quick to seek his advice on Paul's case.

Acts 26 is the classic testimony of paul. It is this same Agrippa that stated "...You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Acts 26:28 (NKJV)


[h=2]Judaea Capta coin issued by Agrippa II found at Bethsaida[/h] Robin Ngo • 07/30/2014

A bronze Judaea Capta coin issued by Jewish ruler Agrippa II was discovered in the 2014 Bethsaida excavations. The coin features Roman Emperor Domitian. Photo: Hanan Shafir, courtesy of the Bethsaida Excavations.




The 2014 Bethsaida excavations in Israel have uncovered a rare Judaea Capta coin. In an email to Bible History Daily, University of Nebraska Omaha professor and excavation director Rami Arav revealed that the coin was issued by Herod’s great-grandson Agrippa II. Minted in 85 C.E. at Caesarea Maritima, the bronze coin depicts Roman Emperor Domitian on the obverse (front face of the coin) and a palm tree on the reverse (back face).* Judaea Capta (“Judea captured”) coins were first struck under Roman Emperor Vespasian to celebrate the Romans’ suppression of the Jewish revolt (66–70 C.E.). The revolt was effectively quashed with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., though thereafter the Roman army continued to stamp out the last of the rebels at such hideouts as Herod’s desert fortress at Masada.

Judaea Capta coin struck by Roman Emperor Vespasian. Photo: Casden Collection.




Minted in gold, silver and bronze, the Roman imperial Judaea Capta coins often feature on the reverse a palm tree, under which sits a female in mourning—symbols of the conquered Judea. Other varieties of the Judaea Capta series depict a male captive with his hands tied behind his back, the goddess Victory and Roman symbols of war. The legend reads IUDAEA CAPTA or IUDAEA DEVICTA (“Judea defeated”). The obverse of Judaea Capta coins feature a profile of the Roman emperor, most often Vespasian. Judaea Capta coins were minted for 25 years by Vespasian and his sons and successors Titus and Domitian.

Agrippa II, whose reign spanned the latter half of the first century C.E., was the last ruler of the Herodian dynasty. Having enjoyed the favor of the Romans, he issued provincial Judaea Capta coins that feature some of the same motifs as the Roman imperial series. The Judaea Capta coin from the 2014 Bethsaida excavations is a part of this unique series minted by the Jewish ruler. Bethsaida was a small village on the northern shore of Galilee. It was at Bethsaida that Jesus, according to the New Testament, healed the blind man (Mark 8:22–25) and fed the multitude (Luke 9:12–17). Founded in the 10th century B.C.E., Bethsaida was located in the Biblical kingdom of Geshur. Excavations led by Rami Arav at Bethsaida have thus far uncovered the remains of an Iron Age city gate complex as well as the Hellenistic-Roman city.

The recently discovered Judaea Capta coin “connects Bethsaida with the great importance that the Roman Empire placed on the quelling of the revolt in Judea and Galilee,” said excavation codirector Carl Savage in a University of Nebraska Omaha press release.

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* Special thanks to Dr. Rami Arav for providing this information to Bible History Daily.
 

David_A_Reed

Come, Lord Jesus!
The coins show the reality of the fulfillment of this passage:

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

"Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days!

"For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." - Luke 21:20-24

David
 

mikhen7

Freed By Christ to Serve Christ
The coins show the reality of the fulfillment of this passage:

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

"Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days!

"For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." - Luke 21:20-24

David
For sure! Even though the passages you quote refer to the coming time of Tribulation the fact that the "Times of the Gentiles" were established as a physical event is clearly seen by these IUDAEA CAPTA or IUDAEA DEVICTA (“Judea defeated”) coins.

I am reminded also of:

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, (1 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV)

who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, (1 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV)

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16 NKJV)


***The wrath of God abides upon any who does not believe and receive Jesus as Savior. This will be the case until these Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.***

The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (John 3:35 NKJV)

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NKJV)

***Spiritually this wrath sits upon any who has not received Christ because He takes away the God's wrath against sin; therefore, they have no deliverer. In Judaism, "There no longer remains a sacrifice for sin."
***Physically the wrath is shown by the unbelieving Jews losing everything to the Romans, a period that began in 63 BC with Pompey and continues to this day. The 70 AD loss of the temple and the 134-35 Bar Kochba revolt were outward manifestations of their spiritual darkness. God favor had fled. But soon they will get another chance to receive Jesus as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

God Bless
 
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