Pontius Pilate
by Matt Slick
Pontius
Pilate was Roman prefect of Judea, the fifth governor of the province from A.D.
26 to 36.
He was
prefect during the time of John the Baptist’s ministry as recorded in the
gospels as well as the ministry and crucifixion of Jesus (see Luke 3:1)
We have
information about Pilate from the writings of Philo Judaeus and Flavius
Josephus (Antiquities 18.32f, 35, 89).
He was seen
as insensitive to Jewish religious practices and easily used brutal force to
ensure his power and control. He insulted the Jews by minting coins with pagan
gods on them.
Josephus
tells us that when Pilate first brought Roman troops to Jerusalem from
Caesarea, he allowed the troops to bring in busts of the Roman emperors which
were considered idolatrous images by the Jews.
This was done at night, so the Jews were not aware of it. "A massive protest demonstration in
Caesarea’s stadium forced the removal of the standards, but only after the Jews
used tactics of nonviolent mass resistance, lying down and baring their necks
when Pilates soldiers, swords in hand, surrounded and attempted to disperse
them."
Philo tells
of how the Pilate appropriated Jewish temple funds and used them for building
an aqueduct. The Jews protested.
Pilate then
had Roman soldiers disguise themselves as Jews and mingle among them with concealed
clubs. On a given signal they attacked the people.
He was
removed from his office in Judea in the year that Emperor Tiberius died and
sent back to Rome to answer the charges that he had executed people without
giving them trials.
Tradition
states that he committed suicide in Rome.
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