The Definition of the word Pilate, Pontius

Pilate, Pontius

Probably connected with the Roman family of the Pontii, and "called "Pilate" from the Latin pileatus, i.e., "wearing the" "pileus", which was the "cap or badge of a manumitted slave," as" "indicating that he was a "freedman," or the descendant of one." He was the sixth in the order of the Roman procurators of Judea "(A.D. 26-36). His headquarters were at Caesarea, but he" frequently went up to Jerusalem. His reign extended over the "period of the ministry of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ," in connection with whose trial his name comes into prominent "notice. Pilate was a "typical Roman, not of the antique, simple" "stamp, but of the imperial period, a man not without some" "remains of the ancient Roman justice in his soul, yet" "pleasure-loving, imperious, and corrupt. He hated the Jews whom" "he ruled, and in times of irritation freely shed their blood." "They returned his hatred with cordiality, and accused him of" "every crime, maladministration, cruelty, and robbery. He visited" "Jerusalem as seldom as possible; for, indeed, to one accustomed" "to the pleasures of Rome, with its theatres, baths, games, and" "gay society, Jerusalem, with its religiousness and" "ever-smouldering revolt, was a dreary residence. When he did" "visit it he stayed in the palace of Herod the Great, it being" common for the officers sent by Rome into conquered countries to "occupy the palaces of the displaced sovereigns." "After his trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was brought to the "Roman procurator, Pilate, who had come up to Jerusalem as usual" "to preserve order during the Passover, and was now residing," "perhaps, in the castle of Antonia, or it may be in Herod's" palace. Pilate came forth from his palace and met the deputation "from the Sanhedrin, who, in answer to his inquiry as to the" "nature of the accusation they had to prefer against Jesus," "accused him of being a "malefactor." Pilate was not satisfied" "with this, and they further accused him (1) of sedition, (2)" "preventing the payment of the tribute to Caesar, and (3) of" assuming the title of king (Luke 23:2). Pilate now withdrew with Jesus into the palace (John 18:33) and examined him in private "(37, 38); and then going out to the deputation still standing" "before the gate, he declared that he could find no fault in" Jesus (Luke 23:4). This only aroused them to more furious "clamour, and they cried that he excited the populace "throughout" "all Jewry, beginning from Galilee." When Pilate heard of" "Galilee, he sent the accused to Herod Antipas, who had" "jurisdiction over that province, thus hoping to escape the" "difficulty in which he found himself. But Herod, with his men of" "war, set Jesus at nought, and sent him back again to Pilate," "clad in a purple robe of mockery (23:11, 12)." "Pilate now proposed that as he and Herod had found no fault in "him, they should release Jesus; and anticipating that they would" "consent to this proposal, he ascended the judgment-seat as if" ready to ratify the decision (Matt. 27:19). But at this moment his wife (Claudia Procula) sent a message to him imploring him "to have nothing to do with the "just person." Pilate's feelings" "of perplexity and awe were deepened by this incident, while the" "crowd vehemently cried out, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Pilate" "answered, "What then shall I do with Jesus?" The fierce cry" "immediately followed. "Let him be crucified." Pilate, apparently" "vexed, and not knowning what to do, said, "Why, what evil hath" "he done?" but with yet fiercer fanaticism the crowd yelled out," "Away with him! crucify him, crucify him! Pilate yielded, and" sent Jesus away to be scourged. This scourging was usually inflicted by lictors; but as Pilate was only a procurator he had "no lictor, and hence his soldiers inflicted this terrible" "punishment. This done, the soldiers began to deride the" "sufferer, and they threw around him a purple robe, probably some" "old cast-off robe of state (Matt. 27:28; John 19:2), and putting" "a reed in his right hand, and a crowd of thorns on his head," "bowed the knee before him in mockery, and saluted him, saying," "Hail, King of the Jews! They took also the reed and smote him" "with it on the head and face, and spat in his face, heaping upon" him every indignity. "Pilate then led forth Jesus from within the Praetorium (Matt. "27:27) before the people, wearing the crown of thorns and the" "purple robe, saying, "Behold the man!" But the sight of Jesus," "now scourged and crowned and bleeding, only stirred their hatred" "the more, and again they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" "and brought forth this additional charge against him, that he" "professed to be "the Son of God." Pilate heard this accusation" "with a superstitious awe, and taking him once more within the" "Praetorium, asked him, "Whence art thou?" Jesus gave him no" "answer. Pilate was irritated by his continued silence, and said," "Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee? Jesus," "with calm dignity, answered the Roman, "Thou couldest have no" "power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." "After this Pilate seemed more resolved than ever to let Jesus "go. The crowd perceiving this cried out, "If thou let this man" "go, thou art not Caesar's friend." This settled the matter. He" "was afraid of being accused to the emperor. Calling for water," "he washed his hands in the sight of the people, saying, "I am" "innocent of the blood of this just person." The mob, again" "scorning his scruples, cried, "His blood be on us, and on our" "children." Pilate was stung to the heart by their insults, and" "putting forth Jesus before them, said, "Shall I crucify your" "King?" The fatal moment had now come. They madly exclaimed, "We" "have no king but Caesar;" and now Jesus is given up to them, and" led away to be crucified. "By the direction of Pilate an inscription was placed, according "to the Roman custom, over the cross, stating the crime for which" he was crucified. Having ascertained from the centurion that he "was dead, he gave up the body to Joseph of Arimathea to be" buried. Pilate's name now disappears from the Gospel history. "References to him, however, are found in the Acts of the" "Apostles (3:13; 4:27; 13:28), and in 1 Tim. 6:13. In A.D. 36 the" "governor of Syria brought serious accusations against Pilate," "and he was banished to Vienne in Gaul, where, according to" "tradition, he committed suicide."