The Piso Family in the New Testament
The Pisos felt that they had a 'right' to make a new religion based on Judaism, because they were
descendants of the Herodian/Hasmonean hierarchy that appointed the Jewish High Priests.
Arrius Piso was called 'Mountanus' in History. His name was Arrius, which is 'Mars'. In Acts 17:22 they
insert Arrius' name by mentioning 'Mars' Hill'. That is 'Arrius Pagos', by making Arrius synonymous with 'hill'
they make him a small mountain. If you stood at the bottom of Mars' hill, you could call it a mountain. But
then others may argue that you were "making a mountain out of a mole-hill." Although, that's exactly what
the writers of the New Testament did. The above phrase was an inner-circle reference, because the Hebrew
word for 'mole' also meant 'chameleon', which Arrius Piso certainly was, as he blended himself into the
background of 'history'.
As I said before, the 'history' books of the time, were not so much 'history' books, as they were family
ledgers. So was the New Testament! They gave honor to their ancestors and themselves by writing them
into the 'Book of Life' i.e., the New Testament. Also, by giving honorable mention to their relatives, they
were giving (inserting) another way in which to claim authorship. It was one of the many ways that they used
to 'copyright' their work. Of course, since the Herods were Arrius Piso's relatives, he wrote them into his
story. Herod the Great (King Herod), was his (Arrius Piso's) great-great grandfather. Archelaus was his
great-uncle, as were Antipas, Philip, and Herod the Tetrarch. Herodias (wife of Philip), was his great-aunt.
Agrippa 1 was his grand-uncle, as was Tiberius Julius Alexander (brother of Tigranes). Aristobulus was his
great-grandfather. Agrippa 2, Berenice 2, and Drusilla were his mother's first cousins.
THE HERODIANS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
"Salute Herodion, my kinsman"........... Romans 16, 11
Herod the Great......................... Matt. 2, 1-22
Luke 1, 5
Archelaus..............................Matt. 2, 22
Antipas.................................Matt. 14, 1-10
Mark 6, 14-28
Luke 3, 1,19
Luke 8, 3
Luke 9, 7-9
Luke 13, 31
Luke 23, 7-15
Philip.................................... Luke 3, 1
Herod-Philip......................... Matt. 14, 3-11
Mark 6, 17-28
Luke 3,19
Herodias................................Matt. 14, 3-11
Mark 6, 17-28
Luke 3, 19
Salome.................................. Matt. 14, 6-11
Mark 6, 22-28
Herod-Agrippa 1.................. Acts 12
Agrippa 2..............................Acts 25, 13-27, 26
Berenice.................................Acts 25, 13-27, 26
Drusilla...................................Acts 24, 24
Aristobulus.............................Romans 16, 10
Tiberius Julius Alexander.........Acts 4,6
OTHER ANCESTORS & RELATIVES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Arsinoe. By using the word 'arsenou', they honor (phonetically) Arsinoe (Cleopatra's sister) in 1st Cor. 6:9,
and 1st Timothy 1:10.
Ptolemy Auletes. The 11th Ptolemy and father of Cleopatra, is honored in Matthew 4:23, and Rev. 18:22, by
using his name 'auletes'.
Aulus Vitellius. By his 'Aulus' name in Mark 6:15, Matt. 5:39, 1st Timothy 5:25, 1st Cor. 14:7.
Augustus Caesar. In Luke 2:1
Arrius Piso. Specifically by his name 'Arrius' in Acts 17:19 and 17:22; and as 'Appius' in Acts 28:15, as the
Latin word for 'forum'. In Acts, 'Mars hill' is 'Arrius Pagos' in Greek.
Otho. They honor Otho by using the word 'othonion' for 'cloth' or 'bandage' in Luke 24:12, and John 19:40,
20:5-7.
Cleopatra Selene. Anytime they use the word 'moon' in Greek, they honor Cleopatra Selene (Cleopatra's
daughter). We find her name used in Mark 13:24, Matt. 24:29, Luke 21:25, and Acts 2:20, 1st Cor. 15:41,
Rev. 6:12, 8:12, 12:1, 21:23.
Ptolemy Dionysius. By his 'Dionysius' name in acts 17:34.
Ptolemy Lysanias. By 'Lysanias' in Luke 3:1.
Claudius Caesar. Acts 11:28, 18:2.
Persius the Poet. 'Persis' (dropped the 'u'), in Romans 16:12.
Boionia Priscilla (Arrius Piso's wife). She is placed in the N.T. as the wife of Aquila ('the eagle', Romans
16:3), because she was married to Arrius Piso, who was now like the eagle at the top of the Roman
standard! Also, 2nd Tim. 4:19 ('Prisca'), etc.Livy the writer. The family was related to Livy. Mentioned as
'Levi' in Luke 3:24,29, and Luke 5:27,29.
Marc Antony (Marcus Antonius). Honored in the N.T. by the Title of the 'Gospel' book 'Mark'. Marc
Antony was also a Caesar! His mother, was the sister of the Grandfather (Lucius Julius Caesar), of Julius
Caesar (which makes him a 2nd Uncle of Julius Caesar!).
Cornelius Tacitus. As 'Cornelius' in Acts 10:1,3,7,17,21,22,24,25,30,31.
Dio Chrysostom (i.e., Trajan). By using the word 'Chrysos' for short, they honor Otho's nephew. 'Chrysos'
means 'gold', as does 'Flavius'. It is used in Matt. 2:11, and all through the N.T.
Julius Caesar (whom Julius Piso was named after). As 'Julius' in Acts 27:1,3.
Julia Livilla (Caligula's sister). In Romans 16:7 as 'Julia'.
Justus Piso. As 'Justus' in Acts 1:23, 18:7, and Colos. 4:11.
Publius Hadrian. As 'Publius' in Acts 28:7,8.
Antiochus Soter (ancestor of Arrius Piso, 'Soter' means 'Savior', and is why Arrius Piso can also be a
'Saviour'). Whenever they mention 'Antioch', they allude to their ancestors of the Antiochan Dynasty,
because Antioch was founded by Seleucus Nicator, who, named it after his father - Antiochus!
Jason (their ancestor). In Acts 17:5,6,7,9, and Romans 16:21.
Rufus Corelius (1st husband of Claudia Phoebe Pompeia Plotina). As 'Rufus' in Mark 15:21 and Romans
16:13.
Annaeus Gallio (Seneca's brother). As himself in Acts 18:12,14,17.
Annaeus Seneca. As 'Ananias' (phonetic equiv. of 'Annaeus' with 2nd 'n' switched with 2nd 'a'). In Acts
5:1,3,5.
Olympias (wife of Philip of Macedonia). As 'Olympias' in Romans 16:15.
Felix (the husband of Drusilla, daughter of Agrippa 1). In Acts 24:24.
Ovid. As 'Obed' in Matt. 1:5 and as 'Jobed' in Luke 3:32 (Here, Arrius jokes about writing 'Job' as Josephus.
Gaius Calpernius Piso. As 'Gaius' in Acts 19:29,20:4, and in 1stCor. 1:14, and Romans 16:23, and the 3rd
epistle of John, verse 1.
Pliny (Secundus) the Younger. In Acts 20:4.
Lucius Calpernius Piso. As 'Lucius' in Acts 13:1, and Romans 16:21.
Tiberius Caesar. Luke 3:1.
Silius Titianus Italicus (Otho's brother, and Trajan's father). As 'Italicus' in Acts 10:1.
Matthias (the High Priest). Remember, Arrius Piso writing as Josephus is 'Josephus ben Matthias', and he is
descended from the High Priests. And Arrius was! 'Matthias' is in Acts 1:23,26.
Lucan the Poet. 'Luke' is short for 'Lucan', Acts 16:10,20:5.
John Hyrcanus. As Josephus, Arrius Piso writes so much about John Hyrcanus, that the name 'John'
becomes synonymous with 'Hyrcanus'. John Hyrcanus was Arrius piso's Great, Great, Great, Great, Great,
Great-Grandfather! They honor him with the title of the Fourth Gospel. Also, 'Hyrcanus' is Greek for 'John' in
Hebrew.
Nero. They allude to their relative (both through the Julian Caesars and the Domitii Ahenobarbii), when they
speak of parricide (because supposedly, Nero killed his mother), in 1st Timothy 1:9. And, also in 2nd Tim.
4:22 by name.
Antigonas One-Eye. Alluded to in Matt. 18:9, and Mark 9:47. Actually, they allude loosely to all of their
relatives that had 'one eye' (it might have even been a title, like 'the lion' or 'the Great'), including Petronianus
One-Eye, Petronius Arbiter's brother. Antigonas One-Eye was the brother of Alexander the Great.
T. Flavius Clemens. 'Clemens' is spelled out in Greek, by running words together in John 15:2,4,5,6. And
Phil. 4:3.
Philip of Macedonia (who was a Greek), had a son named 'Lagos', whose son was the 1st Ptolemy. The
great-great grandson of the 1st Ptolemy married Cleopatra 1, who was an Antiochian. Their great-great
granddaughter was Cleopatra 7 (the Cleopatra that we associate with Julius Caesar), her sister, Arsinoe, had
a son who married Alexanra Regent (who was a Hasmonean i.e., Maccabee). Their daughter, was
Mariamne 1 (who married King Herod). King Herod, was an Imudean. The Imudeans came from a branch
of the Maccabees that sprang from Eleazor Auran (through his son Jason). And from King Herod, of course,
sprang the Herodians. King Herod's grand-daughter Mariamne (Arria the Elder), married Vespasian's
brother, T. Flavius Sabinus 2 (a Flavian). Her daughter was Mariamne (Arria the Younger), who married
Gaius Piso and when he died, Lucius Piso, both Caesars. The son of Gaius Piso and Mariamne (Arria the
Younger), was Arrius Piso a.k.a. 'Flavius' Josephus (as you can see, he was already a Flavian). |
