esus’ ministry took place during the rule of
Tiberius Caesar. Because of the rise of his
popularity, some of Jesus’ opponents tried to trap
him by asking about the matter of paying head tax to
Caesar.
But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why
tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it.”
They brought one. And he said to them, “Whose is
this image and superscription?” They said to him,
“Caesar’s.” Jesus then said, “Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that
are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
When archeologists discovered a silver denary
bearing the head of Tiberius Caesar, it was found
out that the coin was put in circulation about 15
A.D. This is consistent with Tiberius period of rule
as emperor, which began in 14 A.D. and it brings
added support to the record stating that John the
Baptist’s ministry commenced in the 15th year of
Tiberius or 29 A.D. We can read this in the writings
of
Luke in 3:1-2:
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and
Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of
Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word
of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the
wilderness.”
This denarius featuring Tiberius on the obverse and
his mother Livia on the reverse, would have been the
coin Jesus held up in His speech. It was the only
type of denarius in circulation throughout Jesus’
adult life.
Other scientific experiments were made to attest
this discovery. In the late 1980’s, two
internationally respected Italian scholars from the
University of Turin, Professor Luigi Baima Bollone,
a medical examiner and Professor Nello Balossino, an
expert in computer-enhanced technology were able to
establish that the coin was minted in the reign of
Emperor Tiberius corresponding to 29 A.D. in our
system of dating.
The coin which is referred to as “Tribute Penny” by
collectors today was also mentioned in the book of
Matthew 22:17-22:
“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful
to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus
perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye
me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And
they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto
them, Whose is this image and superscription? They
say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them,
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are
Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
When they had heard these words, they marveled, and
left him, and went their way.”
This archeological finding clearly shows the
reliability of what is written in the Bible… a
discovery that proves how authentic the Bible is.
