The title by which a Roman emperor was known. The emperors during the time covered by the N.T., with the dates of their accessions, were as follows: Augustus, 31 B.C.; Tiberius, A.D. 14; Caligula, A.D. 37; Claudius A.D. 41; Nero, A.D. 54. The chief occasions on which the imperial name is mentioned are

(1) when a question was put to our Lord as to the duty of paying tribute (Matt. 12: 17; Mark 12: 14; Luke 20: 22);

(2) at his trial before Pilate, when the charge was disloyalty to Caesar (John 19: 12; cf. Acts 17: 7);

(3) the famine in the reign of Claudius, A.D. 47 (Acts 11: 28), and his expulsion of Jews from Rome, about A.D. 50 (Acts 18: 2);

(4) at Paul’s trial before Festus, when he claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in the imperial court (Acts 25: 11);

(5) reference made by Paul to Christians who were members of Caesar’s household (Philip. 4: 22).