Long before TV and radio made it possible for news to be broadcast directly into people’s homes, and in the times when most people were illiterate and could not read the news for themselves, Town Criers used to stand in the streets with their bells to announce the important news. Their cry of “Oyez! Oyez!” simply meant, “Listen! Listen!” Once they had delivered their message, they would pin their notice to the door post of the local hostelry so it could be read by others (who could read). This practice is the origin of the name “The Post” for newspapers.
Clearly, such Town Criers would not deliver the kind of news we see on our TV bulletins today, with hours of analysis and conjecture from experts and interested parties. No. The Town Crier was an agent of the Monarch and would deliver only the most important news – information about new laws, the judgements passed on criminals (at the gallows) and announcements from the King or Queen. It was important for citizens to pay attention to these items of news about their rulers and how they should live as loyal subjects.
Of course, this was not unique to England and nothing new in history. Consider the Roman ruler, Caesar Augustus (reigned from 27 BC to AD 14). He was honoured not only as Emperor, but as the people’s saviour and god. In 9 BC, out of respect for Augustus and in gratitude for the peace that he had brought to the region, the city of Priene announced its intention to change its calendar so that the new year began on his birthday (in August). The announcement was signalled with sacrifices and celebration – this was good news, because Augustus was good news.
Because the language of the people of Priene was Greek, the word used to describe this good news was εὐαγγέλιον. It was a word people had associated with good news for centuries – the return of a victorious army, peace delivered to the nation etc. Now, Caesar Augustus was the source and focus of salvation and peace – the ruler who had united the Roman Empire and brought the great “Pax Romana” to the peoples. Across the Empire, if you heard the word εὐαγγέλιον being used, you knew this was news of the Emperor, and therefore it was time to pay close attention – to “Oyez!”
So imagine living in Rome in the middle part of the first century and hearing someone reading these words from a scroll:
Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου…
The beginning of the good news…
You’d listen up. This was an Imperial announcement. What was coming was of great importance…
Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ θεοῦ.
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Wait a minute… This is the good news not of the Emperor, but of Jesus, the Christ (Messiah/King), the Son of God.
Make no mistake about it, this was explosive stuff. Controversial. Seditious even. Only the Emperor could be called the Son of God. To use the word εὐαγγελίου / εὐαγγέλιον about anyone other than the Emperor was dangerous. This threatened to shake the world. A new king…
So are you listening? Do you want to hear what else was written on that scroll?
Come to Hunsdon Village Hall on 28th March at 7:30pm and hear the good news as it would have been heard for the first time. Stefan Smart is a professional storyteller who has performed this act for packed crowds at the Edinburgh Festival and in venues all over the country. Armed with little more than a chair for props, he will retell this world-changing story in a way you’ve never heard before.
Tickets are just £10* and refreshments will be served.
* Book early – the price rises to £13 after 14th March and to £15 to those who pay on the door.
