50. Crucifixion of Christ

The Roman historian Tacitus wrote his book, The Annals of Imperial Rome, in c. 110 AD, roughly a decade after the death of the last apostle, John. Tacitus is one of the earliest non-Christian sources to discuss Jesus and his crucifixion. The quote by Tacitus is shown below, and by clicking "Read more" at the bottom of this post additional quotes about Christ and the early Christians can be seen.
 

Tacitus (Roman historian, c. 110 AD):  “Their originator, Christ, had been  executed in Tiberius’ reign by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate”  (Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome. Rev. ed.  Trans. Grant, Michael. New York: Penguin, 1971. Print. P. 365.)

Pliny the Younger (Roman Governor, c. 112 AD):  "[The Christians] also declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery, to commit no breach of trust and not to deny a deposit when called upon to restore it." (Pliny the Younger, The letters of Pliny the Younger.  Trans. Radice, Betty. New York: Penguin Books, 1969. Print. P. 294.)

Seutonius (Roman Biographer, c. 120 AD): "Punishments [by Nero] were inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous superstition."  (Seutonius, The Twelve Caesers. Rev. ed.  Rives, J.B. Trans. Graves, Robert. New York: Penguin,  2007. Print. P. 215.)

Jewish Talmud (c. 70-200 AD): "Jesus was hanged on Passover Eve.  Forty days previously the herald had cried, ‘He is being led out for stoning, because he has practiced sorcery and led Israel astray and enticed them into apostasy.  Whoever has anything to say in his defense, let him come and declare it.’  As nothing was brought forward in his defense, he was hanged on Passover Eve."  (Talmud qtd. in Bruce, F.F., Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974. Print. P. 56.)

Lucian (Greek humorist, 2nd century AD): "The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day - the distinguished personage who. . .was crucified…and then it was impressed upon them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws." (Lucian, The Death of  Peregrine qtd. in Habermas, Gary  R., The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin: College Press, 1996. Print. P. 206.)   

Josephus (Jewish writer, 1st century AD): "He convened a judicial session of the Sanhedrin and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so called Christ – James by name – and some others, whom he charged for breaking the law and handed over to be stoned to death." (Josephus qtd. in Bruce, F.F., Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974. Print. P. 36.)