An essay on Pontius Pilate

Who was he?

Pontius Pilate was a Roman governor of Judea during Jesus' earthly ministry. After Herod was removed from being kind over Judea, governors where appointed by the emporer to rule the province. Pilate was the fifth of these. Tiberius appointed him in 26 C.E., and his rule lasted ten years.

His rule.

Pilate's rule was not a peaceful one. He made a bad start as to his relationship with his Jewish subjects. He would frighten petitioners with the threat of being executed.

Philo, a Jewish writer from the first century C.E. describes a act by Pilate provoking protest, this time involving shields bearing the names of Pontius Pilate and Tiberius, who Pilate worked for.

Josephus lists another disturbance. To build a aqueduct to bring water to Jerusalem from a distance of twenty-five miles, Pilate used money from the temple treasury at Jerusalem. Crowds protested this act so Pilate sent disguised soldiers to attack the Jews at a signal, resulting in some of them being injured and killed.

Jesus' Trial.

On Nisan 14, 33 C.E., at dawn, Jesus was brought by Jewish leaders to Pontius Pilate. Pilate inquired as to the charge against Jesus. The charges where that Jesus was subversive and saying he was a king, therefore rivaling Caesar. Pilate questioned Jesus concerning the charges. When he returned to the accusers, he said that he found no fault in the accused. The accusations continued, and when he learned Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas. Herod mistreated and ridiculed Jesus, then returned him to Pilate.

The people and the Jewish leaders were summoned and Pilate renewed his efforts to avoid sentencing a innocent man to death. He asked the crowds if they wanted Jesus released, but instead the crowd, incited by the religious leaders, clamoured for the release of Barabbas, a theif and murderer. Fearing a riot, Pilate acceded the crowd's wishes, and released Barabbas.

Pilate then had Jesus whipped, and the soldiers placed a crown of thorns upon his head, and dressed him in royal robes. Pilate had Jesus come out before the people. At Pilate's cry, “Look! The man!” the leaders of the people again demanded Jesus to be killed. Pilate cried again, “see, you king!” But the people only said, “we have no king but Caesar.” Pilate then gave in and handed Jesus over to be killed.

His personality.

Writers such as Philo, paint Pilate as a inflexible, self-willed man. The Gospel accounts give some accurate insight into this man's makeup. His approch to matters was typical of the Roman ruler, his speech terse and blunt. He nevertheless showed superstitious fear, upon hearing that he was dealing with one who claimed he was God's son. Pilate recognised Jesus' innocence yet he gave into the crowd and turned a innocent man over for them to slaughter him.

Removal and death.

Josephus reports that Pilate's later removal from the office was due to complaints from Samaritans. The complaint was about Pilate's slaughter of a number of Samaritans. Vitellius ordered Pilate to Rome to appear in front of Tiberius, and he put Marcellus in his place. Tiberius died in 37 C.E. while Pilate was still on his way to Rome. History gives no reliable data as to the results of his trial. The historian Eusebius of the late third and forth centuries claims that Pilate was obliged to commit sucide druing the reign of Tiberius' succeser Gaius (Caligula).