Pontius Pilate became the sixth...
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Pontius Pilate became the sixth procurator (or governor) of Judea in the year AD. 26. He ruled from A.D. 26 to 36. He was married to Claudia Procula, the granddaughter of Caesar Augustus. Secular writers of his time tell us about his character. Tacitus, the first century Roman historian, Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, and Philo, the first century Jewish philosopher, mention Pontius Pilate in their writings. Philo and Josephus describe him as a cruel and inflexible governor. An inscription was found at Caesarea in 1961. It contamed the words "Pontius Pilatus praefectus Judaeae." Pilate had several bad experiences with the Jewish authorities. Once, Pilate tried to bring Roman images of the Emperor into the city. Caiaphas gathered 7,000 Jewish loyalists to protest. Pilate removed the poles with the images of the Emperor. Another time, Pilate brought golden shields into the Jerusalem palace of Herod. Caesar ordered Pilate to remove the shields. Later, Pilate decided to improve the system for water supply in Jerusalem. To get the money for this improvement, he raided the temple treasury. The Jewish people objected to this secular use of sacred money. Pilate sent Roman soldiers disguised as civilians to put down the Jewish protesters. Luke reports the murder of some Galileans (Luke 13:1). Again, the Emperor in Rome rebuked Pilate.
-- Chinn
-- Chinn
