The feeling of noblesse oblige was strongly implanted in this senatorial class.  The wealth of most members also put them above the more sordid temptations.  The senator was not permitted to undertake any mercantile or financial business.  The ancient notion still survived, that the only really honourable occupations for money were war and agriculture.  The senator might own land and dispose of its produce or receive its rents, but he could not, for instance, be a money-lender or tax-farmer.  Sometimes, no doubt, a senator evaded these provisions by employing a “dummy,” but we must not probe too deep under the surface.  In compensation for this disability it was from the senatorial class that were drawn all the governors of the important provinces, except Egypt, and all the higher military officers.  In these capacities they received salaries.  The governor of Africa, for example, was paid L10,000 a year.

Such men were no mere inexperienced aristocrats or plutocrats.  They had regularly passed through a military training in youth, and had then held a minor civil appointment, commonly involving some knowledge of public finance.  Next they had passed into the Senate and taken part in its business; had then held other public offices which taught them practical administration and probably legal procedure; and had afterwards been put in command of a “legion,” that is to say, a brigade or corps d’armee.  After performing such functions with credit, a senator might be sent to govern Syria or Macedonia or Britain or some other province.  He was then a man of varied experience and ripe judgment, trained in official discipline and etiquette, as well as in knowledge.  This was the kind of man whom Paul met in Cyprus in the person of the governor Sergius Paulus, or at Corinth in the person of Gallio.

Certain smaller provinces might be administered by men of another order, who were neither filled with the senatorial traditions nor had passed through the senatorial career.  These were but “factors” or “agents” of Caesar, and among them were the Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus, who were administrators of Judaea in New Testament times.

Next in rank to the senatorial order stood that of the “Knights.”  If the senators represent, in a certain sense, the peerage and baronetage, the next order represents—­also in a certain sense.—­the knightage.  Generally speaking, it comprehended what we should call the upper middle classes, and particularly those concerned in the higher walks of finance; such persons as, with us, would be the directors or managers of great companies and banks.  It also included persons whom the head of the state chose to honour with something less than senatorial standing.  Many of these men were extremely wealthy, but the minimum property qualification stood at only L3200, and Roman citizens who possessed that amount were rather apt to pose as knights, and to be commonly spoken of as such by a kind of courtesy title, although