What did Tacitus say about Jesus?

Tacitus, a Roman historian, wrote that Jesus (referred to as 'Christus') was executed by Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. He mentioned that the Christian movement, though suppressed for a time, reemerged and spread to Rome. This is considered one of the strongest non-Christian confirmations of Jesus’ crucifixion and early Christian persecution.

Who was Josephus, and how did he describe Jesus?

Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian who referenced Jesus in two key passages. One calls Jesus 'a wise man' and notes his crucifixion under Pilate; the other refers to 'James, the brother of Jesus who is called the Christ.' These accounts provide non-Christian testimony about Jesus and his followers.

Are the writings of Tacitus and Josephus reliable?

While scholars debate certain phrases—especially in the Josephus texts—most agree that both Tacitus and Josephus offer independent, historical support for Jesus' existence. They are valuable because they come from outside the Christian tradition and were written within a few decades of Jesus’ life.

Why is non-Christian evidence for Jesus important?

Non-Christian sources like Tacitus and Josephus are important because they confirm key facts about Jesus—such as his crucifixion and the early growth of Christianity—without relying on the New Testament. This strengthens the historical case for Jesus as a real figure.

Does this historical evidence prove Jesus is God?

While historical evidence can strongly support that Jesus existed and was crucified, the question of His divinity requires a deeper look at the claims He made, the resurrection, and the witness of His followers. This blog series, The Trial, builds that case step by step.

Did Jesus Really Exist? | Historical Evidence from Tacitus & Josephus

Talmida Ti
Jun 25
6 min read

Updated: Jul 8

If you're asking, “Did Jesus really exist?”—you're not alone. Interestingly, the historical evidence for Jesus is stronger than most people realize.

This post is part of a special micro-series: The Trial — a step-by-step journey where we examine the case for Christ like a courtroom trial. Each episode presents real historical evidence, eyewitness testimony, and non-biblical sources that speak to His life, death, and resurrection. From ancient Roman and Jewish historians to the bold claims of the apostles, we’re putting truth on the stand.

You're reading Episode 3: Did Jesus Really Exist? Featuring historical evidence from Tacitus and Josephus — two non-Christian sources who confirm Jesus as a real historical figure.

🔗 Want to start from the beginning? Click here

Hey you.

I'm so glad you're back.

And if you're new—welcome.

We've been asking the biggest question of your life:

What if God is real?

And if He is... what would that change?

Hi, I'm Talmida T, and this is The Little Why —

Where we break down the big "who, what, and whys" of God in a little way,

Through digestible micro-sessions.

And today?

The trial begins.

But this isn't about putting religion on trial.

It's bigger than that.

We're trying to figure out who God really is.

And if He's real—could He have stepped into His own creation?

Because one man in history didn't just speak about God—

He claimed to be God in the flesh.

He lived, taught, and was executed.

And then—according to His followers—He rose from the dead.

That man was Jesus of Nazareth.

So today, we're putting Him on trial.

Not Christianity.

Not religion.

Just one man—

Who made the boldest claim in human history.

Before we examine the claims of Jesus—His miracles, His resurrection, His identity —

We have to start with the most basic question of all:

Did He actually exist?

Because if Jesus was just a myth, a legend...

Then the entire case collapses.

Now of course, Christians say He existed—He's in the Bible.

But today, we're not starting there.

We're starting with people who had no reason to promote Christianity.

In fact, many of them didn't even like it.

And yet...

They still acknowledged Jesus of Nazareth as a real historical person.

Did Jesus Really Exist?

Exhibit A: Tacitus – The Roman Historian

Tacitus’ Annals manuscript – early Roman record confirming Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. — *Manuscript page from Tacitus’* *Annals* — a Roman historical source that references Jesus and early Christians.

Tacitus was one of the most respected Roman historians of the ancient world.

He lived from around 56 to 120 A.D.

That's just a few decades after Jesus was crucified—

This wasn't some dusty legend from centuries earlier.

Tacitus was writing about events still in the living memory of early Christians, Roman officials, and even some of Jesus' original followers.

And that’s important, right?

Because when I hear evidence, I want to hear from people who lived during that time—not hundreds of years later.

I mean, let’s get as close to the source as possible.

We all know how the telephone game goes.

Tacitus wasn't just some guy with a scroll—

He was the official record-keeper of the Roman Empire.

A senator, a scholar, and a man of great power and influence.

His work is still studied today as a primary source for what we know about ancient Rome. Historians take him seriously—even when they don't take religion seriously.

If Tacitus were alive today, he’d be the guy writing the official government history books.

The one everyone cites in textbooks—not because he believed in what he wrote about, but because his work was just that legit.

Now, let's be clear:

Tacitus was not a Christian.

In fact, he didn't like Christians at all.

Back then, Romans worshipped their emperor as a god—

So Tacitus would have considered Caesar, not Christ, to be divine.

And like many Roman elites, he likely saw Christians as a dangerous,

superstitious sect—

A threat to Roman order and tradition.

And yet...

In his book Annals, written around 116 A.D., Tacitus records something fascinating.

He's describing the aftermath of the Great Fire of Rome,

Which destroyed nearly two-thirds of the city in 64 A.D.

Emperor Nero needed someone to blame.

So he blames the Christians.

(More on that later—and trust me, you don't want to miss that episode.)

Here's what Tacitus says in his writing, Annals 15.44:

"Christus, from whom the name [Christian] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate. And a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea... but even in Rome."

Let's break that down:

"Christus" is Latin for Christ—the title used for Jesus.
Tacitus confirms that Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate, during the reign of Tiberius Caesar.
The phrase "the extreme penalty" was used to describe crucifixion.
He also confirms that Christianity spread rapidly after Jesus' death—first in Judea, then in Rome.

So what do we have here?

Actual reputable historical documentation.

From a hostile, non-Christian source.

Stating that Jesus was a real person—

Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

Exhibit B: Josephus – The Jewish Historian

Josephus’s Antiquities medieval manuscript page, confirming early non-Christian archival evidence for Jesus. — Manuscript page from Josephus’s *Antiquities of the Jews* — a public-domain medieval copy showing historical context from a key non-Christian source.

Flavius Josephus was a Jewish historian, priest, and military leader who was born in 37 A.D., just a few years after Jesus was crucified.

He died around 100 A.D.—which means he also lived and wrote during the living memory of early Christians, Roman officials, and even some of Jesus' original followers.

Like Tacitus, Josephus wasn't a follower of Jesus.

In fact, he was a Jew, a Pharisee—part of the same religious class that opposed Jesus and were responsible for His crucifixion.

He likely viewed Christianity as a threat to Jewish tradition and unity.

Josephus cooperated with the Roman Empire and wrote detailed histories of the Jewish people.

His most famous work was Antiquities of the Jews, which was written around 93 A.D. for a Roman audience to explain Jewish history and culture to Rome.

Now it should be noted that Josephus wasn’t just explaining Judaism for fun—he was trying to preserve the Jewish faith and heritage under Roman rule.

That makes him more like someone trying to defend and document their faith for a hostile audience.

And in this historical record, Antiquities 18.3.3, he talks about Jesus.

"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful works... He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him... and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

Let's break that down:

He refers to Jesus by name—confirming He was a real historical figure.
He says Jesus was wise and known for miraculous works.
He confirms that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, just like Tacitus did.
He acknowledges that Jesus' followers remained loyal even after His death.
And he confirms that the Christian movement was still alive and growing at the time of writing.

So now we have a Roman and a Jew—neither Christian—both independently confirming the same core details.

That this man existed, and that He was crucified.

Let's sit with that for a second... That's... something.

This is what historians call independent corroboration.

You don't get this kind of agreement from hostile sources... unless they're reporting something everyone knew was true.

Just think about Fox News and CNN. They never agree on anything.

So if they did? You’d know it must be true.

Next time, we'll hear from more outsiders—

A Roman governor, a sarcastic satirist, and a hard-nosed historian—

All of them referencing the man called Christ.

Court resumes next Friday at 3PM Pacific—The Hour of Mercy.

Don't miss it.

Want to Go Deeper?

Curious how this all lines up with Catholic teaching and historical evidence?

The references above confirm that what we’ve explored here — Jesus as a real person in history, attested by hostile sources — is fully consistent with the Church’s understanding of Christ, the Gospel accounts, and how truth is confirmed through reason and witness.

Explore it for yourself.

Free e-book version of the Catechism: usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism

Topic	Source	Reference
The Historicity of Jesus	Catechism of the Catholic Church	CCC 423–429, 638–640
Jesus Was a Real Man in History	CCC	464–478
Eyewitnesses and the Early Church	CCC	515–519, 639–641
Tacitus' Account	Annals by Tacitus	Book 15, Chapter 44
Josephus' Account	Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus	Book 18, Chapter 3, Section 3 (Testimonium Flavianum)
		Book 20, Chapter 9, Section 1 (reference to James, brother of Jesus)
Roman Historical Context	Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan	Letter 10.96

🤖 Ask talmidAI

Still curious? Want to dig deeper into today’s non-Christian witnesses?

Here are three prompts you can copy into talmidAI (or your favorite AI tool) to explore the historical evidence, test the sources, or challenge the case on your own terms.

Because truth doesn’t mind being questioned.

Try Asking:

“What did Tacitus say about Jesus, and why do historians consider it important?”
“Who was Josephus, and what did he write about early Christianity?”
“What are the strongest historical arguments for Jesus being a real person?”

Go ahead—ask the bot.

Then weigh the evidence for yourself.

Read More in The Trial Series:

← Episode 2: Jury Duty

→ Episode 4: Evidence from Lucian & Mara