Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PILATE, PONTIUS

(Gk. Póntios Pilátos)

Roman governor or procurator of Judea, 26-36 c.e. (Matt. 27:2; Josephus Ant. 18.2.2 [35]; 18.3.1 [55]; BJ 2.9.2 [169]; Philo Leg. 299). According to an inscription found at Caesarea, he was a praefectus Iudaeae, a commander of auxiliary troops (500-1000 soldiers).

The Gospel accounts depict Pilate as an equitable but weak governor, probably to promote positive relations between the Roman government and Christianity (Mark 15:1-15 par.). The Jewish leaders ask Pilate for Jesus’ death sentence on the grounds of treason (esp. Luke 23:1-2). After interrogation, Pilate pronounces Jesus innocent; yet he yields to the crowds’ demands for Jesus’ execution. Pilate acquiesces to satisfy the crowd (Mark 15:15), to stop a riot (Matt. 27:24), to silence the people’s pleas for Jesus’ death (Luke 23:18-25), and to affirm his loyalty to the emperor (John 19:12-13). Additional incidents function to shift the responsibility for Jesus’ death away from Pilate. In Matt. 27:19-25 Pilate, heeding his wife’s advice, disassociates himself from Jesus and “washes” his hands; then the crowds claim responsibility for his death. In Luke 23:6-12 Pilate sends Jesus to Herod to be tried, who then returns him to Pilate without condemnation, thereby confirming Pilate’s judgment of innocence.

Josephus and Philo, however, describe Pilate as extremely offensive, cruel, and corrupt. Josephus reports that Pilate violated the Jewish law against graven images when he brought into Jerusalem the emperor’s images attached to the Roman standards (Ant. 18.3.1 [55-59], BJ 2.9.2-3 [169-74]). According to Philo, Pilate also offended the Jews when he put shields bearing the emperor’s name in the former palace of Herod in Jerusalem (Leg. 299-305). His misappropriation of temple funds to finance the building of an aqueduct in Jerusalem provoked a riot that left many Jews dead (Ant. 18.3.2 [60-62]; BJ 2.9.4 [175-77]). After a cruel massacre of the Samaritans, Pilate was summoned to Rome (Ant. 18.4.1-2 [85-89]). He was not reappointed as governor.

Emily Cheney

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PILATE, PONTIUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)