Marcellus (prefect of Judea)

Marcellus was the 6th Roman Prefect of the province of Judea.

Biography
He was a friend of Lucius Vitellius, who appointed him after sending Pontius Pilate to Rome (in 36 or 37) to render account. It may be assumed, however, that Marcellus was not really a governor of Judea, but only a subordinate official of appointed by Vitellius to make sure that taxes continued to be collected for the Empire. This task was usually the job of the local Roman procurator. That Marcellus had less power than an actual prefect is supported by the title given him by Judeo-Roman historian, Josephus, who, in designating Marcellus' office, uses the Greek expression, epimeletes (ἐπιμελητής), "overseer", which is uncommon. We are not certain whether Marcellus really had the powers of a prefect or was merely a tax-collecting caretaker. No official act of Marcellus is reported. In 37, he was replaced by Marullus.

However, some insight into the changed situation in Jerusalem after the departure of Pilate is seen in the contrast between the trial and execution of Jesus and that of the first Christian martyr Saint Stephen. In the former, the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) passed the death sentence but dared not carry it out without the prefect's endorsement, and the execution was carried out by the Roman state. In the case of Stephen, the Romans were ignored and the hurried execution was by the old Jewish method of stoning. It would appear that a temporary overseer may have preferred to stay in Caesarea and turn a blind eye to the growing confidence and aggression of the Jewish leaders.