Bible Encyclopedias
Caesar

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sē´zar ( Καίσαρ , Kaı́sar ): Originally the surname of the Julian gens (Thus, Caius Julius Caesar); afterward a name borne by the Roman emperors. In the New Testament the name is definitely applied to Augustus (Luke 2:1 , "Caesar Augustus"), to whom it belonged by adoption, and to Tiberius (Luke 3:1 , "Tiberius Caesar"; compare Matthew 22:17 , Matthew 22:21 ). The "Caesar" to whom Paul appealed (Acts 25:11 , Acts 25:12 , Acts 25:21 ) was Nero. The form is perpetuated in "Kaiser" and "Czar.»