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Line 15: − After Sejanus' death, Pilate seemed to have a more even-handed treatment of the Jews, the emperor's hands-off decree notwithstanding. Jesus' trial showed a prefect who found Him innocent, yet he was forced into the hands of a hostile crowd, culminating in an accusation that "thou art not Caesar's friend"<ref>''John'', 19:12-16</ref>, in reference to the title ''amicus Caesaris'' Pilate held, a title granted to persons favored by the emperor.+ + − + + + + + + − + + + + + + + +
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:''There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.''<ref>''Luke'', 13:1</ref>
:''There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.''<ref>''Luke'', 13:1</ref>
===New Testament accounts===
Jesus is brought to Pilate<ref>Matt. 27:2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28</ref>; His case fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman governor, and the the indictment was based upon political offenses, including high treason and incitement to rebellion, and Jesus - according to the charges of the Jewish high priests - had made himself the "king of the Jews" and thereby become a threat to the emperor in Rome and his territorial claims. Also, because there were signs of an uprising of the Jewish population<ref>Matt. 27:24</ref>, Pilate seemed forced to pursue the charges.
in 36 A.D. a Samaritan revolt<ref>http://www.livius.org/articles/person/pontius-pilate/pontius-pilate-7/</ref> was quashed by Pilate at Mt. Gerizim, and after complaints of his brutality reached the Roman legate in Syria, Lucius Vitellius (the father of the future emperor Vitellius) dismissed him from office and sent him to Rome. The further fate of Pilate is unknown; one account stated that he was ordered to commit suicide by the emperor Caligula.
Pilate asked for a specific accusation; Jesus was declared to be a malefactor, i.e. criminal<ref>John 18:29-32</ref>. Pilate entered the judgement hall and questioned Jesus directly about His alleged kingship, and receives the answer that He rules over the kingdom of truth, and over the hearts of men who acknowledge the truth. Pilate asks: "What is truth?"<ref>reported briefly in Matt. 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3, and with more detail John 18:33-38</ref>. Pilate brings Him forth to the priests, and many accusations are made against Him, which to Pilate's surprise, He makes no reply<ref>Matt. 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5</ref>. Pilate affirms His innocence, but the charges are repeated<ref>Luke 23:4</ref>. Pilate then found out He was a Galilean, so he sent Him to Herod, who was curious as to what Jesus could do and expected to see such; getting nothing instead, Herod in mockery clothed Him in a "gorgeous robe" - possibly his own royal robe - and sent Him back to Pilate<ref>Luke 23:6-12</ref>. Still convinced of His innocence, Pilate declared that neither Herod or himself had found any fault in Him, and offers to scourge Him and let Him go<ref>Luke 23:13-16</ref>, with his wife sending him a message warning him not to harm Jesus because she has suffered many things in a dream because of Him<ref>Matt. 27:19</ref>.
Pilate's attempts to release Jesus utterly fail, in view of the vehement influence of the Jewish authorities, culminating in an accusation that "thou art not Caesar's friend"<ref>John, 19:12-16</ref>, in reference to ''amicus Caesaris'', a title Pilate himself held, granted to persons favored by the emperor. The priests further get the people to choose a notorious rebel-rouser and murderer (Barabbas) to be released instead, and further demand that Jesus be crucified<ref>Matt. 27:20-23; Mark 15:11-14; Luke 23:18-23; John 18:40</ref>. So Pilate turns away and purposely washes his hands for a motive of the ''Gospel of Matthew''<ref>Matt. 27:24</ref>. One can interpret the attitude of Pilate during this episode as either an expression of tired skepticism, as agnosticism, as an expression of superior tolerance, or as an early case of ideological neutrality of state and administration. In any case Pilate ultimately fails because of the right knowledge of Jesus, while at the same time proving himself to be powerless against the Jewish accusers.
==Later years==
in 36 A.D. a Samaritan religious revolt<ref>http://www.livius.org/articles/person/pontius-pilate/pontius-pilate-7/</ref> was quashed by Pilate at Mt. Gerizim, and after complaints of his brutality reached the Roman legate in Syria, Lucius Vitellius (the father of the future emperor Vitellius) dismissed him from office and sent him to Rome. The further fate of Pilate is unknown; one account stated that he was ordered to commit suicide by the emperor Caligula.
==Inscription==
==Inscription==
A slab of stone became the first archaeological find that confirmed the existence of Pilate. In 1961 in the Mediterranean port of Caesarea, which was once the residence of a Roman governor in Judea, two Italian archaeologists discovered a limestone slab measuring 82 × 100 × 20 cm with a Latin inscription deciphered by archaeologist Antonio Frova as:
A slab of stone became the first archaeological find that confirmed the existence of Pilate. In 1961 in the Mediterranean port of Caesarea, which was once the residence of a Roman governor in Judea, two Italian archaeologists discovered a limestone slab measuring 82 × 100 × 20 cm with a Latin inscription deciphered by Dr. Antonio Frova as:
:[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIÉUM
:[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIÉUM
:[...PO]NTIUS PILATUS
:[...PO]NTIUS PILATUS
:[...PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E
:[...PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E
:[...FECIT D]E[DICAVIT]
:[...FECIT D]E[DICAVIT]
Translated:
:''To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum''
:''...Pontius Pilate''
:''...prefect of Judea''
:''...has dedicated [this]''
The stone itself was found embedded within part of a foundation of stair steps to a structure erected in the 4th century A.D. as a part of an earlier theater originally constructed by Herod the Great<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/historical-notes-pontius-pilate-a-name-set-in-stone-1084786.html</ref>; apparently it was just another stone to be used when the theater area was renovated, with much of the inscription carved off from the left side to make the block fit. The translation of the stone indicated it may have been part of a nearby temple, dedicated to Tiberius.
== References ==
== References ==