The Pilate Inscription
Caesarea, Israel
New Testament Period
Pontius Pilate, (26-37 AD)
Limestone,
inscribed
82.0 cm H, 65.0 cm W
Building Dedication
4 Lines of Writing (Latin)
Date of Discovery: 1961
Israel Museum (Jerusalem)
AE 1963 no. 104
Inscription by Pontius Pilate
It wasn't long ago when many scholars were questioning the actual existence of a Roman Governor with the name Pontius Pilate, the procurator who ordered Jesus' crucifixion. In June 1961 Italian archaeologists led by Dr. Frova were excavating an ancient Roman amphitheatre near Caesarea-on-the-Sea (Maritima) and uncovered this interesting limestone block. On the face is a monumental inscription which is part of a larger dedication to Tiberius Caesar which clearly says that it was from "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea."
It reads:
Line One:
TIBERIEUM,,
Line Two: (PON) TIUS
Line
Three: (PRAEF)
ECTUS IUDA (EAE)
This is the only known
occurrence of the name Pontius Pilate in any ancient inscription.
Visitors to Caesarea's theater today see a replica, the original is in
the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. It is interesting as well that there
have been a few bronze coins found that were struck form 29-32 AD by
Pontius Pilate.
Who was Pontius
Pilate?
Pontius Pilate's family name, Pontius,
indicates that he was of the tribe of Pontii. It was one of the most
famous of the ancient Samnite names. The surname or cognomen Pilatus
indicates the familia, or branch of the gens Pontius. The name is
uncertain, though some think it may have meant "armed with the
pilum" (a spear or javelin). One interesting note is about another
man in Roman history bearing the name. Lucius Pontius Aquila was a
friend of Cicero and one of the assassins of Julius Caesar on the Ides
of March (44 BC) when the would-be king was murdered.
The only information regarding Pontius Pilate is the New Testament and two Jewish writers: Josephus and Philo of Alexandria. By far our greatest amount of information comes from the Jewish writer Flavius Josephus who composed his two great works, the Antiquities of the Jews and the Jewish War, towards the end of the first century. There are also several "less reliable" traditions and legends. One early German legend says that Pilate was an illegitimate son of Tyrus, king of Mayence, who had Pilate taken to Rome as a prisoner. After he had apparently committed a murder he was sent to Pontus, where he enlisted in the Roman Army and proved himself by winning many victories against the barbarous tribes in the north.
Tacitus, when speaking
of the cruel punishments inflicted by Nero upon the Christians, tells
us that Christ, from whom the name "Christian" was derived,
was put to death when Tiberius was emperor by the procurator Pontius
Pilate (Annals xv.44). Apart from this reference and what is told us in
the New Testament, all our knowledge of him is derived from two Jewish
writers, Josephus the historian and Philo of Alexandria.
The Roman Procurator
Tiberius Caesar, who succeeded Augustus in AD 14, appointed Pontius Pilate as governor of Judea in 26 AD. Pilate arrived and made his official residence in Caesarea Maritima, the Roman capital of Judea. Pilate was the 5th procurator of Judea. The province of Judea, formerly the kingdom of Archelaus, was formed in 6 AD when Archelaus was exiled and his territory transformed into a Roman province. Although it included Samaria and Idumaea, the new province was known simply as Judea or Judaea. It generally covered the S. half of Palestine, including Samaria. Judea was an imperial province (i.e. under the direct control of the emperor), and was governed by a procurator.
The procurator was devoted to the emperor and directly responsible to him. His primary responsibility was financial. The authority of the Roman procurators varied according to the appointment of the emperor. Pilate was a procurator cum porestate, (possessed civil, military, and criminal jurisdiction). The procurator of Judea was somehow under the authority of the legate of Syria. Usually a procurator had to be of equestrian rank and experienced in military affairs.
Under the rule of a
procurator cum porestate like Pontius Pilate, the Jews were allowed as
much self-government as possible under imperial authority. The
Jewish judicial system was run by the Sanhedrin and court met in
the "hall of hewn stone", but if they desired to inflict the
death penalty, the sentence had to be given and executed by the Roman
procurator.
Pontius Pilate and the Jews
According to history Pilate made an immediate impression upon the Jews when he moved his army headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem. They marched into the city with their Roman standards, bearing the image of the "divine emperor" and set up their headquarters right in the corner of the Temple in a palace-fortress called "Antonia," which outraged the Jews. Pilate quickly learned their zealous nature and political power within the province and, according to Josephus, ordered the standards to be returned to Caesarea (Josephus Ant. 18.3.1-2; Wars 2.9.2-4).
Pilate made some other mistakes according to history before the time when he ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. One time he placed on the walls of his palace on Mt. Zion golden shields bearing inscriptions of the names of various gods. Tiberius had to personally order the removal of the shields. Another time Pilate used Temple revenue to build his aqueduct. There is another incident only recorded in the Bible where Pilate ordered the slaughter of certain Galileans (Luke 13:1) who had supposedly been offering sacrifices in the Temple. Here are some details:
"On one occasion, when the soldiers under his command came to Jerusalem, he caused them to bring with them their ensigns, upon which were the usual images of the emperor. The ensigns were brought in privily by night, put their presence was soon discovered. Immediately multitudes of excited Jews hastened to Caesarea to petition him for the removal of the obnoxious ensigns. For five days he refused to hear them, but on the sixth he took his place on the judgment seat, and when the Jews were admitted he had them surrounded with soldiers and threatened them with instant death unless they ceased to trouble him with the matter. The Jews thereupon flung themselves on the ground and bared their necks, declaring that they preferred death to the violation of their laws. Pilate, unwilling to slay so many, yielded the point and removed the ensigns."
(The Standards- Josephus, War 2.169-174, Antiq 18.55-59)
"At another time he used the sacred treasure of the temple, called corban (qorban), to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem by an aqueduct. A crowd came together and clamored against him; but he had caused soldiers dressed as civilians to mingle with the multitude, and at a given signal they fell upon the rioters and beat them so severely with staves that the riot was quelled."
(The Aqueduct- Josephus, War 2.175-177, Antiq 18.60-62)).
"Philo tells us (Legatio ad Caium, xxxviii) that on other occasion he dedicated some gilt shields in the palace of Herod in honor of the emperor. On these shields there was no representation of any forbidden thing, but simply an inscription of the name of the donor and of him in whose honor they were set up. The Jews petitioned him to have them removed; when he refused, they appealed to Tiberius, who sent an order that they should be removed to Caesarea."
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)
The Trial of Jesus and Pontius Pilate
Pilate had traveled to Jerusalem in order to maintain order during the
huge festival of Passover. This festival was always a problem time for
the Romans, especially since Jewish resentment had always run
especially high during national or religious holidays.
According to the Scriptures the Jewish authorities brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate and began prosecution by saying,
"Luke 23:1-2 Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."
The main charges brought before Pilate about Jesus were political and not religious. Jesus was accused of being a political threat to Rome and to Caesar's authority.
Pilate spoke with Jesus (see John 18:33-19:12) and considered the charges being brought against Jesus.
1. He subverts the
nation
2. He opposes payment of taxes
3. He claims to be a King
These were, of course, false accusations because Jesus refused the title of king in a political sense, and did not oppose paying taxes. He criticized the leaders on religious issues, not political.
Pilate's verdict on all three counts were "I find no case against Him." For whatever reason Pilate tried to avoid judging Jesus. He wanted to give the responsibility to the Jewish authorities, then he tried to detour the responsibility to Herod. He also tried to invoke the custom of releasing a prisoner in honor of the Jewish Passover and let the multitudes decide, but they chose a murderous criminal named Barabbas. Finally he had Jesus scourged in hope that the Jewish Sanhedrin would feel pity.
John 19:15-16 "But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away."
Pilate did not want to be responsible for the death of Jesus, and he would not until the Jewish rulers threatened to report him to Caesar, which they had done before. They cried "let His blood be upon us and on our children" (Matt 27:25) and how fearfully this was fulfilled. (See Masada)
When all else failed Pilate washed his hands of the whole situation in the presence of all the people and turned Jesus over to his soldiers for crucifixion and ordered a sign made for Jesus' cross. The sign on the vertical beam of the cross read in Greek, Latin and Hebrew: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The Sanhedrin were outraged and the chief priests came to Pilate and said:
John 19:21-23 "Do
not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King
of the Jews." ' "Pilate answered, "What I have written,
I have written."
What Happened to Pontius Pilate?
Scripture gives us no further information concerning Pilate, but Josephus, the Jewish historian records that Pilate, the Roman procurator of Judea succeeded Gratus. According to Josephus (Ant, XVIII, iv, 2) Pilate held office in Judea for 10 years. Afterwards he was removed from office by Vitellius, the legate of Syria, and traveled in haste to Rome to defend himself before Tiberius against certain complaints. Before he reached Rome the Tiberius had died and Gaius (Caligula) was on the throne, AD 36. Josephus adds that Vitellius came in the year 36 AD to Judea to be present at Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. This would indicate that Pilate had already left for Rome.
Josephus (Ant, XVIII, iv, 1, 2) gives an account of what really happened to Pontius Pilate and his removal from office. A religious fanatic arose in Samaria who promised the Samaritans that if they would assemble on Mt. Gerizim, he would show them the sacred vessels which Moses had hidden there. A great multitude of people came to the "sacred mountain" of the Samaritans ready to ascend the mountain, but before they could they were attacked by Pilate's cavalry, and many of them were slaughtered. The Samaritans therefore sent an embassy to Vitellius, the legate of Syria, to accuse Pilate of murdering innocent people. Vitellius, who wanted to maintain friendship with the Jews, removed Pilate from office and appointed Marcellus in his place.
Pilate was ordered to go to Rome and answer the charges made against him before the emperor. Pilate set out for Rome, but, before he could reach it, Tiberius had died.
From this point onward
history knows nothing more of Pilate.
Tradition and Legend
Eusebius (4th cent AD) tells us (Historia Ecclesiastica, II), based on the writings of certain Greek historians, that Pilate soon afterward, "wearied with misfortunes," had killed himself. (Hist. Eccl. 2.7.1).
Various apocryphal writings have come down to us, written from the 3rd-5th centuries AD, giving legendary details about Pontius Pilate becoming a Christian, and his wife, traditionally named Claudia Procula, was a Jewish proselyte at the time of the death of Jesus and afterward became a Christian.
There are other traditions mentioned in the false Gospels (non-canonical Apocryphal Gospels) concerning Pontius Pilate.
Church tradition
portrayed Pilate in very favorable terms. In the second century Gospel
of Peter, Jesus is condemned not by Pilate but by Herod Antipas.
Tertullian asserted that Pilate was a Christian at heart and that he
wrote a letter to Tiberius to explain what had happened at Jesus' trial
(Apology 21). The fourth or fifth century Gospel of Nicodemus
(which contains the Acts of Pilate), does not make Pilate a Christian,
but depicts him as more friendly towards Jesus than any of the
canonical gospels. Pilate was soon canonized by the Coptic and Ethiopic
churches.
The Biblical Comparison
The Bible clearly mentions Pontius Pilate as the Roman procurator of Judea at the time of Jesus Christ. Since this dedication stone found in Caesarea Maritima was the first inscription mentioning his actual name, and that he indeed was the Roman procurator who had made his official residence in Caesarea, the discovery of The Pilate Inscription is a monumental discovery that verifies again that the Bible is a Book of history.
The Evidence of Archaeology
The evidence of archaeology helps to give us:
1. Confidence that the places and people mentioned in the Bible are accurate, even though those places and people existed thousands of years in the past.
2. Confidence that the details of the Biblical accounts have not changed over the centuries since it was written as we have a "fixed fact" in history.
3. Confidence that everything that the Lord speaks will be fulfilled in its time.
Isa 46:8-10 "Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,'
Written by Rusty Russell (Bible History Online)
The Procurators of Judaea
The following list of the
procurators of Judaea is based on Marquardt (Romische
Staatsverwaltung, I, 409, 412) and Schurer
(Geschichte des judischen Volkes (4), I, 485-585):
Coponius (6 AD to circa 10 AD)
M. Ambibulus (circa 10-13)
Annius Rufus (circa 13-15)
Valerius Gratus (circa 15-26)
Pontius Pilatus (26-35)
Marcellus (probably 35-38)
Maryllus (38-44)
C. Cuspins Fadus (44-46)
Tiberius Alexander (46-48)
Ventidius Cumanus (48-52)
M. Antonius Felix (52-60 or 61)
NOTE.-Marquardt gives his name as Claudius Felix,
supposing that he was a freedman of Claudius and
therefore took his nomen (Suetonius, Claudius
xxviii; Victor, epitome iv, 8); but there is
stronger evidence in support of the belief that
Felix was a freedman of Antonia, Claudius' mother,
like his brother Pallas (Tacitus, Annals xii.54;
Josephus, Ant, XVI11, vi, 4; XX, vii, 1, 2; XX,
viii, 9; BJ, II, xii, 8), and accordingly had
received the praenomen and nomen of Antonia's father
(Josephus, Ant, XVIII, vi, 6).
Portius Festus (61)
Albinus (62-64)
Gessius Florus (65-66)
The Jewish High Priests
from 200 B.C to the Reign of Herod the Great
1. Simon II the Just, 220-190 B.C.
2. Onias III, 190-174 B.C.
3. Jason/Jeshua,175-172 B.C.
4. Menelaus, 172-162 B.C.
5. Alcimus, 162-156 B.C.
6. Jonathan, 153-142 B.C.
7. Simon, 142-135 B.C.
8. John Hyrcanus I, 134-104 B.C.
9. Aristobulus I, 104-103 B.C.
10. Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 B.C.
11. Hyrcanus II, 76-67 B.C.
12. Aristobulus II, 67-63 B.C.
13. Hyrcanus II, 63-40 B.C.
14. Antigonus, 40-37 B.C.
The Jewish High Priests
from Herod the Great to the Destruction of Jerusalem
15. Ananel, 37-36 B.C. (Appointed by Herod the
Great)
16. Aristobulus III, 35 B.C.
17. Jesus, son of Phiabi, ? -22 B.C.
18. Simon, son of Boethus, 22-5 B.C.
19. Matthias, son of Theophilus, 5-4 B.C.
20. Joseph, son of Elam, 5 B.C.
21. Joezer, son of Boethus, 4 B.C.
22. Eleazar, son of Boethus, 4-1 B.C. - (Appointed
by Herod Archelaus)
23. Jesus, son of Sie, 1 - 6 A.D.
24. Annas, 6-15 A.D. (Appointed by Quirinius)
25. Ishmael, son of Phiabi I, 15-16 A.D. (Appointed
by Valerius Gratus)
26. Eleazar, son of Annas, 16-17 A.D.
27. Simon, son of Kamithos, 17-18 A.D.
28. Joseph Caiaphas, 18-37 AD.
29. Jonathan, son of Annas, 37 A.D. (Appointed by
Vitellius)
30. Theophilus, son of Annas, 37-41 A.D.
31. Simon Kantheras, son of Boethus, 41-43 A.D.
(Appointed by Herod Agrippa I)
32. Matthias, son of Annas, 43-44 A.D.
33. Elionaius, son of Kantheras, 44-45 A.D.
34. Joseph, son of Kami, 45-47 A.D. (Appointed by
Herod of Chalcis)
35. Ananias, son of Nebedaius, 47-55 A.D.
36. Ishmael, son of Phiabi III, 55-61 A.D.
(Appointed by Herod Agrippa II)
37. Joseph Qabi, son of Simon, 61-62 A.D.
38. Ananus, son of Ananus, 62 A.D.
39. Jesus, son of Damnaius, 62-65 A.D.
40. Joshua, son of Gamal iel, 63-65 A.D.
41. Matthias, son of Theophilus, 65-67 A.D.
42. Phinnias, son of Samuel, 67-70 A.D. (Appointed
by The People)
Some dates cannot be known for certain.
Pilate in Easton's Bible Dictionary
probably connected with the Roman family of the
Pontii, and called "Pilate" from the Latin pileatus,
i.e., "wearing the pileus", which was the "cap or
badge of a manumitted slave," as indicating that he
was a "freedman," or the descendant of one. He was
the sixth in the order of the Roman procurators of
Judea (A.D. 26-36). His headquarters were at
Caesarea, but he frequently went up to Jerusalem.
His reign extended over the period of the ministry
of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ, in
connection with whose trial his name comes into
prominent notice. Pilate was a "typical Roman, not
of the antique, simple stamp, but of the imperial
period, a man not without some remains of the
ancient Roman justice in his soul, yet
pleasure-loving, imperious, and corrupt. He hated
the Jews whom he ruled, and in times of irritation
freely shed their blood. They returned his hatred
with cordiality, and accused him of every crime,
maladministration, cruelty, and robbery. He visited
Jerusalem as seldom as possible; for, indeed, to one
accustomed to the pleasures of Rome, with its
theatres, baths, games, and gay society, Jerusalem,
with its religiousness and ever-smouldering revolt,
was a dreary residence. When he did visit it he
stayed in the palace of Herod the Great, it being
common for the officers sent by Rome into conquered
countries to occupy the palaces of the displaced
sovereigns."...
Pilate in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
PILATE, PONTIUS. Connected with the Pontian clan
(gens), first remarkable in the person of Pontius
Telesinus, the great Samnite general. Pilate is
probably from pileus, "the cap of freedom,"which
manumitted slaves received; Pilate being perhaps
descended from a freedman. Sixth Roman procurator of
Judaea, appointed in Tiberius' 12th year (A.D. 25 or
26). The pagan historian Tacitus (Ann. 15:44)
writes: "Christ, while Tiberius was emperor, was
capitally executed by the procurator Pontius
Pilate." The procurator was generally a Roman
knight, acting under the governor of a province as
collector of the revenue, and judge in cases arising
under it. But Pontius Pilate had full military and
judicial authority in Judas, as being a small
province attached to the larger Syria; he was
responsible to the governor of Syria. Archelaus
having been deposed (A.D. 6), Subinus, Coponius,
Ambivius, Rufus, Valerius Gratus, and Pontius Pilate
successively were governors (Josephus, Ant. 18:2,
section 2). Pilate removed his military head
quarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem, and the
soldiers brought their standards with the emperor's
image on them. The Jews crowded to Caesarea and
besought him to remove them He was about to kill the
petitioners after a five days' discussion, giving a
signal to concealed soldiers to surround them; but
their resolve to die rather than cease resisting the
idolatrous innovation caused him to yield (Josephus,
Ant. 18:3, section 1-2; B.J. 2:9, section 2-4). So
far did the Jews' scruples influence the Roman
authorities that no coin is stamped with a god or
emperor before Nero (DeSaulcy, Numism. 8-9); the
"penny" stamped with Caesar's image in Matthew 22:20
was either a coin from Rome or another province, the
shekel alone was received in the temple. Pilate
again almost drove them to rebel (1) by hanging up
in his residence, Herod's palace at Jerusalem, gilt
shields with names of idols inscribed, which were
finally removed by Tiberius' order (Philo, ad Caium.
38, ii. 589)...
Pilate in Hitchcock's Bible Names
armed with a dart
Pilate in Naves Topical Bible
-Roman governor of Judaea during the time of Jesus'
ministry Mt 27:2; Lu 3:1 -Causes the slaughter of
certain Galileans Lu 13:1 -Tries Jesus and orders
his crucifixion Mt 27; Mr 15; Lu 23; Joh 18:28-40;
19; Ac 3:13; 4:27; 13:28; 1Ti 6:13 -Allows Joseph of
Arimathaea to take Jesus' body Mt 27:57,58; Mr
15:43-45; Lu 23:52; Joh 19:38
Pilate in Smiths Bible Dictionary
(armed with a spear), Pontius. Pontius Pilate was
the sixth Roman procurator of Judea, and under him
our Lord worked, suffered and died, as we learn not
only from Scripture, but from Tacitus (Ann. xv. 44).
was appointed A.D. 25-6, in the twelfth year of
Tiberius. His arbitrary administration nearly drove
the Jews to insurrection on two or three occasions.
One of his first acts was to remove the headquarters
of the army from Caesarea to Jerusalem. The soldiers
of course took with them their standards, bearing
the image of the emperor, into the holy city. No
previous governor had ventured on such an outrage.
The people poured down in crowds to Caesarea, where
the procurator was then residing, and besought him
to remove the images. After five days of discussion
he gave the signal to some concealed soldiers to
surround the petitioners and put them to death
unless they ceased to trouble him; but this only
strengthened their determination, and they declared
themselves ready rather to submit to death than
forego their resistance to aa idolatrous innovation.
Pilate then yielded, and the standards were by his
orders brought down to Caesarea. His slaughter of
certain Galileans, Lu 13:1 led to some remarks from
our Lord on the connection between sin and calamity.
It must have occurred at some feast at Jerusalem, in
the outer court of the temple. It was the custom for
the procurators to reside at Jerusalem during the
great feasts, to preserve order, and accordingly, at
the time of our Lord's last Passover, Pilate was
occupying his official residence in Herod's palace.
The history of his condemnation of our Lord is
familiar to all. We learn from Josephus that
Pilate's anxiety to avoid giving offence to Caesar
did not save him from political disaster. The
Samaritans were unquiet and rebellious Pilate led
his troops against them, and defeated them enough.
The Samaritans complained to Vitellius, then
president of Syria, and he sent Pilate to Rome to
answer their accusations before the emperor. When he
reached it he found Tiberius dead and Caius
(Caligula) on the throne A,D, 36. Eusebius adds that
soon afterward "wearied with misfortunes," he killed
himself. As to the scene of his death there are
various traditions. One is that he was banished to
Vienna Allobrogum (Vienne on the Rhone), where a
singular monument--a pyramid on a quadrangular base,
52 feet high--is called Pontius Pilate"s tomb, An
other is that he sought to hide his sorrows on the
mountain by the lake of Lucerne, now called Mount
Pilatus; and there) after spending years in its
recesses, in remorse and despair rather than
penitence, plunged into the dismal lake which
occupies its summit.
Pilate in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
1. Name and Office: The nomen Pontius indicates the
stock from which Pilate was descended. It was one of
the most famous of Samnite names; it was a Pontius
who inflicted on a Roman army the disgrace of the
Caudine Forks. The name is often met with in Roman
history after the Samnites were conquered and
absorbed. Lucius Pontius Aquila was a friend of
Cicero and one of the assassins of Julius Caesar.
The cognomen Pilatus indicates the familia, or
branch of the gens Pontius, to which Pilate
belonged. It has been derived from pileus, the cap
worn by freedmen; this is improbable, as Pilate was
of equestrian rank. It has also been derived from
pilum, a spear. Probably the name was one that had
descended to Pilate from his ancestors, and had long
lost its meaning. The praenomen is nowhere
mentioned. Pilate was 5th procurator of Judea. The
province of Judea had formerly been the kingdom of
Archclaus, and was formed when he was deposed (6 AD)
Speaking roughly, it took in the southern half of
Israel, including Samaria. Being an imperial
province (i.e. under the direct control of the
emperor), it was governed by a procurator (see
PROCURATOR; PROVINCE). The procurator was the
personal servant of the emperor, directly
responsible to him, and was primarily concerned with
finance. But the powers of procurators varied
according to the appointment of the emperor. Pilate
was a procurator cum porestate, i.e. he possessed
civil, military, and criminal jurisdiction. The
procurator of Judea was in some way subordinate to
the legate of Syria, but the exact character of the
subordination is not known. As a rule a procurator
must be of equestrian rank and a man of certain
military experience. Under his rule, the Jews were
allowed as much self- government as was consistent
with the maintenance of imperial authority. The
Sanhedrin was allowed to exercise judicial
functions, but if they desired to inflict the
penalty of death, the sentence had to be confirmed
by the procurator...
Pontius Pilate in Wikipedia
Pontius Pilate (pronounced /; Latin: Pontius
Pilatus, Greek: Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος) was the fifth
Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from AD
26?36.[1][2][3] Typically referenced as the fifth
Prefect of Judaea, he is best known as the judge at
Jesus' trial and the man who authorized his
crucifixion. Pilate appears in all four canonical
Christian Gospels. In Matthew, Pilate washes his
hands of Jesus and reluctantly sends him to his
death.[4] Mark, depicting Jesus as innocent of
plotting against Rome, portrays Pilate as extremely
reluctant to execute Jesus, blaming the Jewish
priestly hierarchy for his death.[4] In Luke, Pilate
not only agrees that Jesus did not conspire against
Rome, but Herod Antipas, the tetrarch, also finds
nothing treasonable in Jesus' actions.[4] In John,
Jesus' claim to be the Son of Man or the Messiah to
Pilate and the Sanhedrin is not portrayed at
all.[4]...
Some Scriptures mentioning the name "Pontius Pilate"
John 19:21 - Then said the chief priests
of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The
King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the
Jews.
John 19:10 - Then saith Pilate
unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou
not that I have power to crucify thee, and have
power to release thee?
John 18:37 - Pilate
therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus
answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end
was I born, and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Luke 3:1 - Now in the fifteenth year of
the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch
of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of
Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and
Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
John 19:22 - Pilate
answered, What I have written I have written.
John 19:15 - But they cried out, Away
with [him], away with [him], crucify him.
Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your
King? The chief priests answered, We have no king
but Caesar.
John 19:6 - When the chief priests
therefore and officers saw him, they cried out,
saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate
saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for
I find no fault in him.
John 19:12 - And from thenceforth
Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews
cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art
not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king
speaketh against Caesar.
John 19:31 - The Jews therefore, because
it was the preparation, that the bodies should not
remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that
sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate
that their legs might be broken, and [that] they
might be taken away.
Mark 15:44 - And Pilate
marvelled if he were already dead: and calling [unto
him] the centurion, he asked him whether he had been
any while dead.
John 18:38 - Pilate saith
unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this,
he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto
them, I find in him no fault [at all].
Mark 15:2 - And Pilate
asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he
answering said unto him, Thou sayest [it].
Luke 23:3 - And Pilate
asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?
And he answered him and said, Thou sayest [it].
Mark 15:1 - And straightway in the
morning the chief priests held a consultation with
the elders and scribes and the whole council, and
bound Jesus, and carried [him] away, and delivered
[him] to Pilate.
Acts 4:27 - For of a truth against thy
holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both
Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the
Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together,
1 Timothy 6:13 - I give thee charge in
the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
[before] Christ Jesus, who before Pontius
Pilate witnessed a good confession;
Acts 3:13 - The God of Abraham, and of
Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath
glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and
denied him in the presence of Pilate,
when he was determined to let [him] go.
Matthew 27:24 - When Pilate
saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather
a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his]
hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of
the blood of this just person: see ye [to it].
Mark 15:43 - Joseph of Arimathaea, an
honourable counsellor, which also waited for the
kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto
Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
John 19:13 - When Pilate
therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth,
and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is
called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
John 18:35 - Pilate
answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief
priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou
done?
Mark 15:15 - And [so] Pilate,
willing to content the people, released Barabbas
unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged
[him], to be crucified.
John 18:33 - Then Pilate
entered into the judgment hall again, and called
Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the
Jews?
John 19:5 - Then came Jesus forth,
wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe.
And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold
the man!
John 19:19 - And Pilate
wrote a title, and put [it] on the cross. And the
writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Mark 15:4 - And Pilate
asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing?
behold how many things they witness against thee.
Luke 13:1 - There were present at that
season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose
blood Pilate had mingled with their
sacrifices.
Matthew 27:17 - Therefore when they were
gathered together, Pilate said unto
them, Whom will ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
Luke 23:11 - And Herod with his men of
war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed
him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to
Pilate.
Matthew 27:13 - Then said Pilate
unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they
witness against thee?
Related Pages:
Pontius Pilate - Prefect of Judea
Pontius Pilate in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
Josephus on Pilate and the Riots
Pontius Pilate in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Caiaphas in Unger's Bible Dictionary
Caiaphas in Easton's Bible Dictionary
Beersheba in the ISBE Bible Encyclopedia
Biblical Definition of Beersheba
Altar - Background Bible Study
Altar in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Altar in the ISBE Bible Encyclopedia
Israel - The Center of the Ancient World
Israel - Archaeology Links and Resources
The Destruction of Israel in the Old Testament
Archaeological Resources - Israel
Free Bible - Fallen Empires (Biblical
Archaeology)
Bible History Links - Ancient Near East : Art & Images
Free Bible - Ancient Art
The Destruction of Israel - Kings of Israel, Judah and Assyria
Timeline 800 - 700 BC
The Assyrians
The Captivity of Israel
The Impregnable Strength of Jerusalem
Israel - The Center of the Ancient World
Israel - Archaeology Links and Resources
The Destruction of Israel in the Old Testament
Archaeological Resources - Israel
Read The Bible
- 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
- 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
- American Standard Version (ASV)
- Amplified Bible (AMP)
- Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
- Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
- BRG Bible (BRG)
- Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
- Common English Bible (CEB)
- Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
- Contemporary English Version (CEV)
- Darby Translation (DARBY)
- Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
- Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
- Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
- Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)
- Expanded Bible (EXB)
- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
- Good News Translation (GNT)
- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
- International Children’s Bible (ICB)
- International Standard Version (ISV)
- J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
- Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
- King James Version (KJV)
- Lexham English Bible (LEB)
- Living Bible (TLB)
- Modern English Version (MEV)
- Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)
- Names of God Bible (NOG)
- New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
- New American Standard Bible (NASB)
- New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)
- New Catholic Bible (NCB)
- New Century Version (NCV)
- New English Translation (NET)
- New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
- New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
- New International Version (NIV)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- New Life Version (NLV)
- New Living Translation (NLT)
- New Matthew Bible (NMB)
- New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
- New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
- New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
- New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
- New Testament for Everyone (NTE)
- Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
- Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
- Revised Standard Version (RSV)
- Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
- The Message (MSG)
- The Voice (VOICE)
- Tree of Life Version (TLV)
- World English Bible (WEB)
- Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)
- Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
- Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Table of Contents
Main Menu
- Ancient Assyrian Social Structure
- Ancient Babylonia
- Ancient Canaan During the Time of Joshua
- Ancient History Timeline
- Ancient Oil Lamps
- Antonia Fortress
- Archaeology of Ancient Assyria
- Assyria and Bible Prophecy
- Augustus Caesar
- Background Bible Study
- Bible
- Biblical Geography
- Fallen Empires - Archaeological Discoveries and the Bible
- First Century Jerusalem
- Glossary of Latin Words
- Herod Agrippa I
- Herod Antipas
- Herod the Great
- Herod's Temple
- High Priest's in New Testament Times
- Jewish Literature in New Testament Times
- Library collection
- Map of David's Kingdom
- Map of the Divided Kingdom - Israel and Judah
- Map of the Ministry of Jesus
- Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
- Messianic Prophecy
- Nero Caesar Emperor
- Online Bible Maps
- Paul's First Missionary Journey
- Paul's Second Missionary Journey
- Paul's Third Missionary Journey
- Pontius Pilate
- Questions About the Ancient World
- Tabernacle of Ancient Israel
- Tax Collectors in New Testament Times
- The Babylonian Captivity
- The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
- The Books of the New Testament
- The Court of the Gentiles
- The Court of the Women in the Temple
- The Destruction of Israel
- The Fall of Judah with Map
- The History Of Rome
- The Incredible Bible
- The Jewish Calendar in Ancient Hebrew History
- The Life of Jesus in Chronological Order
- The Life of Jesus in Harmony
- The Names of God
- The New Testament
- The Old Testament
- The Passion of the Christ
- The Pharisees
- The Sacred Year of Israel in New Testament Times
- The Samaritans
- The Scribes
Ancient Questions
- How did the ancient Greeks and Romans practice medicine and treat illnesses?
- What were the major contributions of ancient Babylon to mathematics and astronomy?
- How did the ancient Persians create and administer their vast empire?
- What were the cultural and artistic achievements of ancient India, particularly during the Gupta Empire?
- How did ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs build their remarkable cities and structures?
- What were the major trade routes and trading practices of the ancient world?
- What was the role of slavery in ancient societies like Rome and Greece?
- How did the ancient Mayans develop their sophisticated calendar system?
- What were the key events and significance of the Battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece?
- What was life like for women in ancient Rome?
Bible Study Questions
- The Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV): Historical Significance, Translation Methodology, and Lasting Impact
- Exploring the English Standard Version (ESV): Its Aspects, Comparisons, Impact on Biblical Studies, and Church Use
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of Language Updates in the KJ21: Comparison with Other Versions
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of the American Standard Version (ASV): Comparison to the King James Version, Influence on Later Translations, and Evaluation of Strengths and Weaknesses
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of Amplifications in the Amplified Bible (AMP) and Its Comparison to Other Bible Translations
- Detailed Historical Analysis of the Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC): Examples of Amplifications and Comparative Analysis with Other Bible Translations
- Theological Implications of the BRG Bible's Color-Coding System: A Comparative Analysis
- The Christian Standard Bible (CSB): An In-Depth Analysis
- The Geneva Bible: Theological Distinctives, Impact on English Literature, and Role in Bible Translation History
- Exploring the Common English Bible (CEB): Translation Methodology, Church Use, and Comparative Analysis
About
Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.
Discover the captivating stories of forgotten empires, delve into the customs and cultures of our ancestors, and witness the remarkable findings unearthed by dedicated archaeologists.
Immerse yourself in a treasure trove of knowledge, where the past comes alive and illuminates our understanding of the present.
Join us on this extraordinary journey through time, where curiosity is rewarded and ancient mysteries await your exploration.
Recent posts
-
Is It Sinful to Get a Hair Transplant? What Does the Bible Say?
For many, hair loss is more than a physical concern—it can also bring up emotional, social, and even spiritual questions. One question that often ar... -
How to View the Contents of a VMDK File
A VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) is a specialized file format developed by VMware to encapsulate the entire contents of a virtual machine's hard disk, in... -
The Olive Tree: Its Symbolism and Meaning in the Bible
The olive tree holds profound significance in the Bible, embodying peace, prosperity, divine favor, and resilience. This sacred tree is not only one o... -
Jaxx Liberty Wallet: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Your Crypto Assets
Jaxx Liberty Wallet is a powerful multi-chain cryptocurrency pockets designed to soundly store, control, and alternate a huge sort of virtual assets. ... -
TikTok for B2B: The Unexpected Growth Channel for Business in 2025
In a surprising twist of digital marketing evolution, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse for B2B growth in 2025. While traditionally viewed as a platf...