Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PILATE, ACTS OF

Originally written in Greek, an apocryphal work surviving in many medieval manuscripts, the oldest from the 12th century, and in Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, and Arabic translations. In a number of medieval manuscripts it is found together with another work, Christ’s Descent into Hell, and entitled the Gospel of Nicodemus. The date is uncertain. Justin Martyr (mid-2nd century) refers to an Acts of Pontius Pilate (Apol. 5, 21), but scholars are unsure that this is the same document. Eusebius refers to the Acts of Pilate in the early 4th century (HE 1.9.3; 9.5.1). A 5th-century revision (Recension B) makes numerous changes and additions.

The work follows the outline of the Passion and Resurrection narratives of the canonical Gospels. The author depends most heavily on Matthew and John, but knows the longer ending of Mark. He greatly expands this basic outline with much additional material, and is particularly interested in Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus.

When Jesus is brought before Pilate, the standards, which bear images of the emperor, bow before Jesus. The Jewish authorities claim that the standard-bearers lowered them. Pilate tells them to choose 12 men of their own to bear the standards. When they do so, the standards again bow on their own accord before Jesus.

After the Crucifixion and burial the Jewish authorities lock up Joseph of Arimathea in a building without a window. He escapes and later tells them that the building was lifted up from the ground and the risen Jesus let him out, took him to the now empty tomb, then to his house, and put him in his bed.

Other Jews tell the Jewish authorities and the people how they saw Jesus speak to his disciples on Mt. Mamlich in Galilee and how he was then taken up bodily into heaven. The authorities reserve judgment about this, and the people praise God for his fulfilling the Scriptures.

Bibliography. F. Scheidweiler, “The Gospel of Nicodemus; Acts of Pilate, and Christ’s Descent into Hell,” in New Testament Apocrypha, ed. W. Schneemelcher and R. McL. Wilson, rev. ed., 1 (Louisville, 1991): 501-36.

J. Christian Wilson

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PILATE, ACTS OF

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)