Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912)
Papyrus decree of 41 CE on Jewish–Greek strife — context for Claudius' expulsion of Jews from Rome
Found 1921 — Acquired by the British Museum in 1921 from Philadelphia (Fayum), Egypt; edited by H. Idris Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt (1924)
Where Philadelphia (Fayum), Egypt (Egypt)
Dates from 10 November 41 CE · Early Roman Imperial · Reign of Claudius (Acts 11:28; 18:2)
Now at British Library, London (Papyrus 2248 / P.Lond. VI 1912)
Names a biblical person Claudius
How Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) was found
A copy of the emperor's letter, posted by the prefect of Egypt, was found written on the back of a tax document from the village of Philadelphia and reached the museum through the antiquities trade.
What it is
A Greek papyrus roll of five columns preserving Claudius' full reply to an Alexandrian embassy after the riots of 38–41 CE. He confirms the Jews' rights, forbids them to bring in more Jews 'from Syria or Egypt,' and warns both sides against 'stirring up a general plague for the whole world.'
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 18:2 says Claudius ordered all Jews to leave Rome, and Suetonius ties that expulsion to disturbances 'at the instigation of Chrestus' — probably disputes about Messiah. This papyrus is the same emperor, in the same years, dealing with Jewish unrest in Alexandria, and some scholars read his phrase about a 'plague' spreading and Jews arriving 'from Syria' as an early echo of the Messianic movement. At minimum it shows the imperial mood that sent Priscilla and Aquila to Corinth.
The Hebrew word: geh-ROOSH
גֵּרוּשׁ
גֵּרוּשׁ is pronounced geh-ROOSH and means expulsion, banishment (Strong's H1644).
People this discovery connects to
- Claudius — קְלַאוּדְיוֹס (KLAH-oo-dee-os) — Latin Claudius, emperor 41–54 CE
- Aquila — עֲקִילַס (ah-kee-LAHS) — Latin Aquila, 'eagle'; Jew expelled from Rome
Places
- Alexandria — אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּה (ah-lek-sahn-dree-YAH) — Greek Alexandreia
Events
Claudius' expulsion of the Jews from Rome · Jewish–Greek riots in Alexandria
Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) in Scripture
Acts 11:28 The famine 'in the days of Claudius' — the reign this letter dates to.
Acts 18:2 Claudius' expulsion of Jews from Rome — the same emperor's policy toward Jewish unrest, in his own words.
Acts 23:26 One of only 3 verses that name Claudius.
Questions people ask
What is Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912)?
A Greek papyrus roll of five columns preserving Claudius' full reply to an Alexandrian embassy after the riots of 38–41 CE. He confirms the Jews' rights, forbids them to bring in more Jews 'from Syria or Egypt,' and warns both sides against 'stirring up a general plague for the whole world.'
When was Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) discovered?
It was found in 1921 by Acquired by the British Museum in 1921 from Philadelphia (Fayum), Egypt; edited by H. Idris Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt (1924), at Philadelphia (Fayum), Egypt.
Where is Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) today?
British Library, London (Papyrus 2248 / P.Lond. VI 1912).
Which Bible verses does Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) relate to?
Acts 11:28, Acts 18:2, Acts 23:26.
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Sources
- H. I. Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt (1924)
- CPJ II 153 (Tcherikover & Fuks, Corpus Papyrorum Judaicarum)
- Roger Pearse, "The Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians" (P.Lond. VI 1912 / BL Papyrus 2248, Philadelphia, Bell 1924, 10 Nov 41 CE)
Open Letter of Claudius to the Alexandrians (P.Lond. 1912) in Hebrew Explorer →