Who Are These Guys

A Long Way From Rome

When you hear “Roman soldier,” you might picture a man from Rome wearing shiny armor and carrying a big red shield.

The real Roman army was much more interesting.

Rome’s army was drawn from across its empire, and the men posted to first-century Judaea were a mixed lot: some Roman citizens, many recruited across the East, a fair number from the region itself. What they shared was the job: holding the province for the governor. That meant guarding towns and roads, escorting officials and tax collectors, and keeping order day to day. Pitched battles were rare. Mostly the work was being present, in armor, unmistakably Roman.

So who are these guys?

They’re Roman soldiers on duty in Judaea — which never meant they were all from Rome.