Acts – Page 2 – OAJA.org

1. Full Date of Act	219
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	ABBA ARIKA
3. Geography of Act	Babylon
4. Text of Act	Commentary from other sources: 1) The word "Rav" means master. He was a student of Judah HaNasi and after his death he opened the Torah academy at Sura, which became one of the pillars of Babylonian Jewry. At its peak, over 1,200 students studied there. The beginning of the third century saw a rise in Jewish activities and a decline in the supremacy of Israel. The decline was due to the constant despoiling of Israel by the weakened Roman army and the rise of another ruler in Palmyra (ancient city of central Syria), who heavily taxed the inhabitants of Israel, reducing them to poverty. This directly affected support for schools of learning, which soon migrated to quieter, more tolerant, and more affluent shores. Rav was noted for improving moral and intellectual positions through his responsa (ordinances), including a ban on marriage without courtship and forbidding fathers to betroth a daughter without her consent. These responsa came in the form of questions. They became a popular way of maintaining contact with dispersed communities and, in various contexts, they still continue today. "Jewish History;" Online article
5. Source	None
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	None
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	221
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Law code passed by Emperors Severus and Antoninus, 221/222 AD
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	“The divine Severus and Antoninus allowed those who follow the Jewish superstition to accept honors (public offices), but also imposed punishments on those who would not betray their religion.”
5. Source	Ulpianus, Digesta, 50.2.3.3,
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	224
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Forced Conversion"
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	Commentary from other sources: 1) Jews are converted by force in Italy. "Jewish Persecution \| Timeline of Judaism \| History of AntiSemitism;" simpletoremember.com
5. Source	None
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	None
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	250
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Expulsion of Jews"
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	Commentary from other sources: 1) Jews are expelled from Carthage (also known as Karhadon). "Jewish Persecution \| Timeline of Judaism \| History of AntiSemitism;" simpletoremember.com
5. Source	None
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	None
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	300
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	No Title
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	If Jews shall circumcise purchased slaves of another nation, they shall either be exiled or suffer capital punishment.
5. Source	Paulus, Sententiae, 5:22:4,
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	306 C.E.
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Canon 16, 49, 50, & 78 by the Synod of Elvira
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Spain [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	...Can. 16. Heretics shall not be joined in marriage with Catholic girls unless they accept the Catholic faith. Catholic girls may not marry Jews or heretics, because they cannot find a unity when the faithful and the unfaithful are joined. Parents who allow this to happen shall not commune for five years...Can. 49. Landlords are not to allow Jews to bless the crops they have received from God and for which they have offered thanks. Such an action would make our blessing invalid and meaningless. Anyone who continues this practice is to be expelled completely from the church...Can. 50. If any of the clergy of the Faithful eats with Jews, he shall be kept from communion in order that he be corrected as he should...Can. 78. If a Christian confesses adultery with a Jewish or pagan woman, he is denied communion for some time. If his sin is exposed by someone else, he must complete five years’ penance before receiving the Sunday communion.
5. Source	“A History of the Christian councils: Book II; Chapter III. Sec. 13. Synod of Elvira." Karl Joseph von Hefele. Online book, Accessed 7/11/2011
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	None
8. Notes	Editor Meigne argues that the Council of Elvira issued only the first 21 canons; the other canons were added to the "collection" probably taken from other Iberian councils. There is a dissertation that could shed some light on this: Eckhard Reichert: Die Canones der Synode von Elvira. Einleitung und Kommentar. Hamburg 1990 (Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 1988). Research continued by Ziba Shadjaani 10/25/2015

1. Full Date of Act	Oct. 18, 315
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	“On converts to Judaism and to Christianity” Issued by Emperor Constantine to Evagrius (315 AD)
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	We want to relate to the Jews, their ancestors, and their patriarchs that if anyone - after this law is passed - should flee from their deadly sect and turn to the worship of god, dares to assail them with rocks or any other sort of madness, will be given to flames and burned with all other associates.
5. Source	Theodosian Code 16.8.1.
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	325
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Synodal letter written by Emperor Constantine addressing the Niceaen Council
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	“Therefore, we should not to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course (the order of the days of the week); and consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews...”
5. Source	Eusebius, Vita Constantinii, 3.18,
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Jul. 4, 325
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Canon 52 of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	Usury and the base seeking of worldly gain is forbidden to the clergy, also conversation and fellowship with the Jews.
5. Source	Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (eds.), "Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, The Seven Ecumenical Councils," Hendrickson Publishers, June 1995, originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons, 1900, p. 49, available from ccel.org.
6. Researcher	Kate Wraith
7. Year of Research	2025
8. Notes	Researcher The number of Canons issued by the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea is disputed. See the above source, pp. 43-45, for more information.

1. Full Date of Act	Jul. 4, 325
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Decree issued by Constantine I at the Council of Nicaea
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Turkey
4. Text of Act	When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day...It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom [the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom, (1) we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter, which we have observed from the time of the Saviour's Passion to the present day [according to the day of the week]. We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course(the order of the days of the week); and consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast...We could not imitate those who are openly in error. How, then, could we follow these Jews, who are most certainly blinded by error? for to celebrate the passover twice in one year is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so, it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people [the Jews]...Think, then, how unseemly it is, that on the same day some should be fasting whilst others are seated at a banquet; and that after Easter, some should be rejoicing at feasts, whilst others are still observing a strict fast. For this reason, a Divine Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and regulated in a uniform way; and everyone, I hope, will agree upon this point...To sum up in few words: By the unanimous judgment of all, it has been decided that the most holy festival of Easter should be everywhere celebrated on one and the same day, and it is not seemly that in so holy a thing there should be any division. As this is the state of the case, accept joyfully the divine favour, and this truly divine command; for all which takes place in assemblies of the bishops ought to be regarded as proceeding from the will of God. Make known to your brethren what has been decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode; we can thus celebrate this holy Easter day at the same time, if it is granted me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice together, seeing that the divine power has made use of our instrumentality for destroying the evil designs of the devil, and thus causing faith, peace, and unity to flourish amongst us. May God graciously protect you, my beloved brethren.
5. Source	“Medieval Sourcebook: Constantine I: On the Keeping of Easter.” Paul Halsall. January 1996.
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	2012
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Oct. 18, 329
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Prohibition of Persecuting Jewish Converts and of Proselytism by Jews" Issued by Emperor Constantine
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	We want the Jews, their principals, and their patriarchs informed, that if anyone-once this law has been passed-dares to attack anyone escaping their deadly group and turning his eyes toward the path of God, either by stoning or by other kind of fury...he shall be given to the flames and burnt with his associates.
5. Source	Codex Justianus 1.9.3.
6. Researcher & Translator	Researchers Joan Paez, Ziba Shadjaani Translator Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Nov. 29, 330
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Exemption of Religious Leaders from Community Service" Issued by Holy Emperor Constantine
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	Those who dedicated themselves with complete devotion to the synagogues of the Jews, to the patriarchs, or to their priests... shall not be a part of all community services, personal as well as civil...
5. Source	Codex Theodosianus 16.8.2.
6. Researcher & Translator	Researchers Joan Paez, Ziba Shadjaani Translator Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Oct. 21, 335
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Law issued by Constantine I
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy
4. Text of Act	The Jews are not permitted to disturb any person who, once a Jew, has become a Christian, or inflict other injury upon him; insults are to be punished according to the seriousness of the attach committed, etc…
5. Source	“The Persecution of the Jews in the Roman Empire (300-428).” James Everett Seaver. 1952, Page 31; Accessed online.
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	2011
8. Notes	Editor Author’s footnote dates this law in 335 as Theodosian code 16.8.5

1. Full Date of Act	May 8, 336
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	“Decree” issued by Constantine (year 336)
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	Jews are not allowed to harass Jewish converts to Christianity, and will be punished in accordance with the nature of the act. […] if a Jew circumcises a non-Jewish slave, the slave is to be taken from the Jew and remain free.
5. Source	Fourth Century Christianity: Imperial Laws and Letters Involving Religion, AD 311-364; Fourthcentury.com.
6. Researcher	Ziba Shadjaani
7. Year of Research	2018
8. Notes	Researcher This is a summary of the ancient Latin text found in Codex Theodosianus 16.8.5; Codex Theodosianus 16.9.1

1. Full Date of Act	Mar. 9, 337
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	“Order” of Constantine Augustus to Praetorian Prefect Felix
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	[…] It is Our will that if any Jew should purchase a Christian slave or a slave of any other sect […] and should not greatly fear to circumcise such slave, the person thus circumcised shall be rendered master of his freedom by the measures of this statute and shall obtain possession of the privileges thereof. It shall not be permissible for a Jew who has circumcised a slave of the aforesaid class to retain such slave in the service of slavery. For by this same sanction We command that if any Jew should unlock for himself the door of eternal life, should deliver himself to our holy worship, and should choose to be Christian, he shall not suffer any disquietude or molestation from the Jews. If any Jew should suppose that he should assail with outrage ay person who has been converted from Judaism to Christianity, it is Our will that as the contriver of such contumely he shall be subjected to avenging punishments in proportion to the nature of the crime which he has committed […] It is Our will that Your Excellent Sublimity by your letter dispatched throughout the diocese that is entrusted to you shall admonish the judges most earnestly to enforce such due reverence.
5. Source	Pharr, Clyde: The Theodosian Code and Novels, and the Sirmondian Constitutes - A Translation with Commentary, Glossary, and Bibliography. (New Jersey; 2001)
6. Researcher	Ziba Shadjaani
7. Year of Research	2018
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	339
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Laws issued by Emperor Constantius
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	“A Jew should neither purchase nor obtain a Christian slave by any pretext whatsoever. But if any Jew owns a Christian slave…not only will he lose the slave, but also be condemned to capital punishment.”
5. Source	Codex Justinianus 1.10.1
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Aug. 13, 339
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Law issued by Constantius II
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	If any Jew has obtained a slave of another sect or national group than his own, the slave shall at once be confiscated to the public fisc: furthermore if he has circumcised the slave after buying him, then not only shall he suffer the confiscation of the slave, but also he shall meet capital punishment. But if the Jew has purchased slaves known to be of the holy faith, then all the goods found in his possession shall be taken from him at once, and no delay shall be interposed in depriving him of the possession of those men who are Christians.
5. Source	“The Persecution of the Jews in the Roman Empire (300-428).” James Everett Seaver. 1952, Page 32; Accessed online.
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	2011
8. Notes	Editor Author’s footnote dates this law in 339 as Theodosian code 16.9.2

1. Full Date of Act	Aug. 13, 339
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Theodosian Code 16.8.1 on Jewish and Christian conversions issued by Emperor Constantine Augustus to Evagrius.
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	It is Our will that Jews and their elders and patriarchs shall be informed that if, after the issuance of this law, any of them should dare to attempt to assail with stones or with any other kind of madness - a thing which We have learned is now being done - any persian who has fled their feral sect and has resorted to the worship of God, such assailant shall be immediately delivered to the flames and burned, with all his accomplices. Moreover, if any person from the people should betake himself to their nefarious sect and should join their assemblies, he shall sustain with them the deserved punishment.
5. Source	Clyde Pharr, “The Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions: A Translation with Commentary, Glossary, and Bibliography,” Princeton University Press, 1952, p. 467, available from archive.org.
6. Researcher	Kate Wraith
7. Year of Research	2025
8. Notes	Researcher This law is also recorded in the Code of Justinian 1.9.3, dated October 18, 315. See: Bruce W. Frier, et al (eds.), “The Codex of Justinian: A New Annotated Translation, with Parallel Latin and Greek Text,” Cambridge University Press, 2016, p. 229, available from archive.org.

1. Full Date of Act	Aug. 13, 339
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Theodosian Code 16.8.6 on the conversion of Christian women to Judaism issued by Emperor Constantis Augustus to Evagrius.
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	It shall be observed that Jews shall not hereafter unite Christian women to their villainy; if they should do so, however, they shall be subject to the peril of capital punishment.
5. Source	Clyde Pharr, “The Theodosian Code and Novels and the Sirmondian Constitutions: A Translation with Commentary, Glossary, and Bibliography,” Princeton University Press, 1952, p. 467, available from archive.org.
6. Researcher	Kate Wraith
7. Year of Research	2025
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	Oct. 18, 339
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Law issued by Constantine I
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy
4. Text of Act	We wish to make clear to the Jewish elders and patriarchs that if, after the enactment of this law, anyone attempts by stoning or other type of madness (which we know is being done at this time), to reconvert a person who has given up the baleful sect of Judaism and has joined the cult of God, forthwith he and his accomplices are to be given to the flames and burned. Furthermore if anyone of the people has joined their evil sect and frequented their meeting places, he shall suffer his deserved penalty with them.
5. Source	“The Persecution of the Jews in the Roman Empire (300-428).” James Everett Seaver. 1952, Page 32; Accessed online.
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	2011
8. Notes	Editor Author’s footnote dates this law in 339 as Theodosian Code 16.8.1

1. Full Date of Act	343
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Theophanes writing about Emperor Constatius’ official decree after the Jewish uprising of 342-343
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	“In the same year, Constantius…having sent royal edicts…he ordered that they be banished..”
5. Source	Chronographia, AM 5843,
6. Researcher & Translator	Joan Paez
7. Year of Research & Translation	2015
8. Notes	None

1. Full Date of Act	May 352
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	Order of Caesar [Flavius Constantius] Gallus
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire [Provisional]
4. Text of Act	“Caesar Gallus […] orders the killing of thousands of Jews regardless of age or sex and destroys their cities Diospolis, Diocaesarea, Tiberias, and others."
5. Source	Weigl, Johann Baptist: Theologisch-Chronische Behandlung über das wahre Geburts- und Sterb-Jahr Jesu Christi von Johann Baptist Weigl. Zweiter, praktischer Theil. (Theological-chronological treatment of the real birth-year and year-of-death of Jesus Christ. Second part.); (Sulzbach; 1849);
6. Researcher & Translator	Ziba Shadjaani
7. Year of Research & Translation	2020
8. Notes	Researcher According to Cyrillus, this occurred around the Day of the Pentecost, which - in the year of 352 - fell on May 10. The above is a translation of a German summary of the original text.

1. Full Date of Act	Jul. 3, 352
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	“Order” of Constantius Augustus and Julian Caesar to the Praetorian Prefect Thalassius
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	In accordance with the venerable law which has been established, We command that if any person should (spit upon the venerable law and) be converted from Christianity to Judaism and should join their sacrilegious gatherings, when the accused has been proven [to be guilty], his property shall be vindicated to the ownership of the fisc.
5. Source	Pharr, Clyde: The Theodosian Code and Novels, and the Sirmondian Constitutes - A Translation with Commentary, Glossary, and Bibliography. (New Jersey; 2001)
6. Researcher	Ziba Shadjaani
7. Year of Research	2018
8. Notes	Researcher According to the original document, this laws was "Given on the fifth day before the nones of July at Milan in the year of the ninth consulship of Constantius Augustus and the second consulship of Julian Caesar," which would technically be July 3, 357, according to the Gregorian calendar. However, Thalassius had died in 353 and Musonianus was the Praetorian Prefect in 357. Experts argue that this law should be dated at 352, "in the year of the fifth consulship of Constantius Augustus and the consulship of Constantius Caesar" (or possibly in 353, the year Thalassius died). Also, if Milan is to have been the place of issuance, it can be reconciled with 352 but not with 357.

1. Full Date of Act	Jul. 3, 353
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Confiscation of the Properties of Christian Converts to Judaism" Issued by Emperor Constantius II
3. Geography of Act	Present-day Italy; Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	According to an already existing law, if any one once a Christian has become a Jew and has associated with sacrilegious groups, we decree that all his goods be confiscated to the imperial fisc after the accusation has been proved.
5. Source	“The Persecution of the Jews in the Roman Empire (300-428).” James Everett Seaver. 1952; Accessed online.
6. Researcher	None
7. Year of Research	2011
8. Notes	Editor Author’s footnote dates this law in 353 as Theodosian code 16.8.7

1. Full Date of Act	Dec. 1, 354
2. Name of Act (or Short Description)	"Closing of Jewish Temples" issued Emperor Constantius and addressed to Praetorian Prefect Taurus
3. Geography of Act	Roman Empire
4. Text of Act	We have determined that the [Jewish] temples shall be immediately closed in all cities, and access to them forbidden to all, so that permission for further offending may be refused to those who are lost. We also wish everyone to abstain from sacrifices, and if any person should do anything of this kind, he shall be laid low with the avenging sword; and We decree that his property, after having been taken from him, shall be confiscated to the Treasury, and that the Governors of provinces shall also be punished, if they have neglected to suppress these crimes.
5. Source	Maas, Michael (Editor): Readings in Late Antiquity: A Sourcebook (New York; 2010); Accessed online.
6. Researcher	Ziba Shadjaani
7. Year of Research	2017
8. Notes	None