Sejanus and Anti-Jewish Policies

Lucius Aelius Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard and basically the shadow emperor while Tiberius vibes on Capri, pushes aggressive anti-Jewish policies around 19-31 CE — including expelling Jews from Rome. Philo of Alexandria documents how Sejanus' influence made life harder for Jews throughout the empire, and Pilate's provocations in Judea may have been him trying to impress Sejanus. When Sejanus gets executed for treason in 31 CE, it shifts Roman policy back toward protecting Jewish rights, which might explain why Pilate suddenly gets nervous about looking anti-Caesar at Jesus' trial.