Yes—Rome tolerated Judaism because it was an ancient religion, while it persecuted Christianity because it was something new.
Les Feldick teaches that pagan Rome had respect for any religion that reached back into antiquity, and Judaism qualified as ancient. Christianity, by contrast, was a new movement and therefore had no claim to antiquity. This is why Rome protected Jewish temple worship but tried to stamp out Christianity through persecution and martyrdom.
Acts 7:57-58 — Records the stoning of Stephen by Jewish religious leadership, illustrating the Jewish religious system operating under Roman toleration.
Acts 26:10 — Paul describes acting with authority from the chief priests to imprison believers and vote for their death, showing Roman-permitted Jewish religious authority.
Scripture does not state Rome's official policy toward Judaism versus Christianity, but it does record incidents that show Jewish religious authority functioning without obvious Roman interference. Acts 7:57-58 tells of Stephen being stoned by the Jewish leadership. Acts 26:10 records Paul's own testimony: "Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them." These passages show a religious system that Rome permitted to discipline and even execute its own people.
Les teaches that Rome, though pagan, had respect for any ancient religion, including its own mythology. Judaism was an ancient religion, so Rome tolerated it, protected its temple worship, and even guaranteed the safe arrival of Jewish temple offerings from Jews scattered throughout the empire. Rome also condescended to Jewish religious authorities, letting them execute their own people in the name of religion—something Rome would never have allowed for a Gentile. Christianity, however, was not an ancient religion; it was something new, viewed as an upstart from one man. Because it had no ancient pedigree, Rome had no reluctance to persecute and martyr its followers, which is why Christians came under massive persecution while Jews did not.
Les says that Jews throughout the dispersion sent substantial sums of money back to the temple in Jerusalem. Rome never intercepted this money and actually guaranteed safe delivery of these offerings. This protection of Jewish temple worship reflected Rome's respect for Judaism as an ancient religion.
Les explains that under Roman government, a Jew would never have gotten away with stoning a Gentile, but Jewish religious leaders were allowed to handle their own religious system. Thus they were permitted to kill their own people in the name of religion. Paul's testimony in Acts 26:10 shows this authority in action when he says he imprisoned believers and gave his voice against them when they were put to death.
Christianity was not an ancient religion in Roman eyes. Les says it was something new, coming from the upstart of one man. Because it lacked antiquity, Rome had no compunctions about putting Christians to death and martyring those who adhered to this new faith. This is why Christians, rather than Jews, came under massive persecution under the Roman Empire.
Paul's Gospel of Grace: From Acts to Romans Explained
them. Be skilled in the use of this book, and be able to say, this is what the book says, and you're missing it. And if they're Apollos, they'll take it to heart, and you have not only gained a more informed teacher or pastor, you've also been, I think you've appreciated his love and his concern for you and for his congregation.
Rome's Respect for Ancient Religion
Les explains that Rome made no opposition to Jewish temple worship because Judaism was an ancient religion, while Christianity was something new that Rome tried to stamp out.
Jewish Authority Under Rome
Les points out that Rome condescended to Judaism by allowing Jews to execute their own people, while such treatment would never have been allowed for a Gentile.
Rome Protected Jewish Offerings
Les notes that Roman authorities guaranteed safe arrival of Jewish temple offerings, showing that Rome protected Judaism while trying to eradicate Christianity.
Jewish Religious Self-Government
Les explains that Rome let the Jews handle their own religious system, including stoning their own people, which a Jew would never have been allowed to do to a Gentile.
Jewish Believers Killed as Heretics
Les says Jewish believers were put to death as heretics, while Rome guaranteed that dispersed Jews' temple offerings reached Jerusalem without interference.
What Does "Only Begotten Son of God" Really Mean?
All right, now again let's go back to Romans 11, where we were in our last program for just a second. Unfortunately, it didn't always remain that way. Unfortunately, it wasn't long after Christianity began to permeate the Roman Empire, that instead of causing the Jew to envy, it caused the Jew to hate him.
Christianity as a New Upstart
Les teaches that because Judaism went back into antiquity Rome regarded it highly, but Christianity was new and seen as an upstart from one man, so Rome martyred its followers without compunction.
Acts 7:57-58: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
This passage records the stoning of Stephen by Jewish religious leadership, illustrating the kind of religious execution that occurred under Roman toleration.
Acts 26:10: Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Paul describes exercising authority received from the chief priests to imprison believers and vote for their death, which Les uses to show Rome permitted Jewish religious jurisdiction.
Les teaches that Jews throughout the empire sent money back to the temple in Jerusalem, and Rome guaranteed its safe arrival. This protection reflected Rome's respect for Judaism as an ancient religion.
Christianity was not an ancient religion. Romans saw it as something new and tried to stamp it out. Judaism, by contrast, reached far back into antiquity, so Rome permitted it to continue with little opposition.
Les says Rome condescended to Judaism and let Jewish authorities handle their own religious system, including putting their own people to death. He notes that this would never have been permitted for a Gentile.
Watch the Teaching: Paul's Gospel of Grace: From Acts to Romans Explained