Gratus (pleasing, Graecized Γράτος), VALERIUS, procurator of Judaea from A.D. 15 to 26, being the first appointed by Tiberius, and the immediate predecessor of Pilate (Josephus, Ant. 18:6, 5). The government of Gratus is chiefly remarkable for the frequent changes which he made in the Jewish high-priestns. He deposed Ananus and substituted Ishmael, son of Fabi next Eleazar, son of Ananus; then Simon, son of Camithus; and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, son-in-law of Ananus (ib. 2,2). He put down two formidable bands of robbers that infested Judmea during his procuratorship, and killed with his own hand the captain of one of them, Simon, formerly a slave of Herod the Great (ib. 17:10, 6, 7; War, 2:4, 2, 3). Gratus assisted the proconsul Quintilius Varus in quelling an insurrection of the Jews (War, 2:5, 2). — Smith, Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v., SEE JUDAEA.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More