Jesus Before Pilate
Children's Resources
Spotlight On Jesus
Readers' Theater For Children's Church
Characters
Narrator
Pilate
Caiaphas
Roman Soldier
Jesus
Crowd 1 (group of three)
Crowd 2 (group of three)
Note: requires whipping sound from an offstage area
Questions
1.
What was the charge made against Jesus that made Pilate decide to question Jesus?
2.
Why did Pilate decide to release Jesus?
3.
What two ways did Pilate try to persuade the mob to agree to release Jesus?
4.
Why did Pilate finally decide to have Jesus crucified?
Narrator: Jesus was condemned by the Jewish High Council. A delegation of priests brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate alone has the power to sentence a prisoner to death.
Pilate: (very businesslike) What's the charge against this man, Caiaphas?
Caiaphas: He is guilty of heresy and blasphemy. He has challenged the authority of rulers of the temple and has made threats against our sacred house of worship.
Pilate: His religious beliefs and practices are of no concern to Rome. I shall dismiss all charges.
Caiaphas: Then perhaps this will interest you. He is a revolutionary, a disturber of the peace, a man who claims to be "king of Israel."
Pilate: (becomes interested) King of Israel, hmmm. I shall take this man into the courtroom and examine him.
Roman Soldier: Here is the prisoner, governor, all bound and waiting for your sentence.
Pilate: Your name and place of residence? (silence) Well, apparently the prisoner has lost his voice.
Roman Soldier: I have the information right here. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth in the northern province of Galilee.
Pilate: Do you claim to be king and ruler of Israel? (silence) Listen, young man. I have the power to sentence you to death. Now answer me. Are you a king?
Jesus: A king, yes, but not of an earthly kingdom, but of the kingdom of heaven.
Pilate: (groans) One of those mystics living in a dream world. Then you do not advocate revolution from Rome.
Jesus: We must give to Caesar what rightfully belongs to Caesar.
Pilate: Then why did you attack the merchants in the temple?
Jesus: They had turned God's house into a bazaar, a marketplace where people haggled over the inflated price of a lamb. No one could possibly worship with all that confusion. They had turned the temple into a den of thieves.
Pilate: That confirms the information I have about you. We have kept close watch on you since you created that disturbance in the temple. I'm convinced you are no danger to Rome. You may be a religious fanatic, but not a revolutionary. I shall go out to the crowd and announce my decision.
Roman Soldier: Sure hope the governor can persuade that mob. They seem to be getting unruly.
Pilate: Citizens of Jerusalem, I have examined the prisoner that your leaders have brought to me and have found him innocent. I shall therefore release him.
Caiaphas: (speaks against murmurs of the crowd) No! You can't set him free.
Crowd 1: (shouts) He calls himself the king of the Jews, and we want no king but Caesar.
Pilate: Yes, he's a dreamer, a mystic, but he is no earthly king.
Crowd 2: (shouts) If you set this man free, you're no friend of Caesar. Caesar is our only king.
Crowd 1: (shouts) Away with this man! Kill him!
Pilate: I could have him whipped for disturbing the peace. Would that satisfy you?
Crowd 2: (shouts) That's not enough! Get rid of him!
Pilate: It's Passover and I customarily set one of your people in prison free. I could release Jesus as the annual Passover prisoner.
Caiaphas: (shouts) No! He deserves to die. Crucify him!
Crowd 1: (shouts) Yes, crucify him.
Crowd 2: (shouts) Nail him to a cross. Crucify him.
(Crowd 1 and Crowd 2 begin crying "Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!" gradually they get louder and faster)
Roman Soldier: It looks like it's turning into a riot, and with our small number of troops, we'll never be able to control them. What do you want me to do?
Pilate: Take the prisoner, whip him, and then crucify him. (shouts) Citizens of Jerusalem, I will give in to your wish. I find the prisoner innocent, but I have ordered him to be crucified.
(offstage the whipping of the prisoner is heard)
Pilate: Slave, bring me a bowl of water and a towel. I'm washing my hands of any guilt for this travesty of justice.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Pilate
Caiaphas
Roman Soldier
Jesus
Crowd 1 (group of three)
Crowd 2 (group of three)
Note: requires whipping sound from an offstage area
Questions
1.
What was the charge made against Jesus that made Pilate decide to question Jesus?
2.
Why did Pilate decide to release Jesus?
3.
What two ways did Pilate try to persuade the mob to agree to release Jesus?
4.
Why did Pilate finally decide to have Jesus crucified?
Narrator: Jesus was condemned by the Jewish High Council. A delegation of priests brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate alone has the power to sentence a prisoner to death.
Pilate: (very businesslike) What's the charge against this man, Caiaphas?
Caiaphas: He is guilty of heresy and blasphemy. He has challenged the authority of rulers of the temple and has made threats against our sacred house of worship.
Pilate: His religious beliefs and practices are of no concern to Rome. I shall dismiss all charges.
Caiaphas: Then perhaps this will interest you. He is a revolutionary, a disturber of the peace, a man who claims to be "king of Israel."
Pilate: (becomes interested) King of Israel, hmmm. I shall take this man into the courtroom and examine him.
Roman Soldier: Here is the prisoner, governor, all bound and waiting for your sentence.
Pilate: Your name and place of residence? (silence) Well, apparently the prisoner has lost his voice.
Roman Soldier: I have the information right here. He is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth in the northern province of Galilee.
Pilate: Do you claim to be king and ruler of Israel? (silence) Listen, young man. I have the power to sentence you to death. Now answer me. Are you a king?
Jesus: A king, yes, but not of an earthly kingdom, but of the kingdom of heaven.
Pilate: (groans) One of those mystics living in a dream world. Then you do not advocate revolution from Rome.
Jesus: We must give to Caesar what rightfully belongs to Caesar.
Pilate: Then why did you attack the merchants in the temple?
Jesus: They had turned God's house into a bazaar, a marketplace where people haggled over the inflated price of a lamb. No one could possibly worship with all that confusion. They had turned the temple into a den of thieves.
Pilate: That confirms the information I have about you. We have kept close watch on you since you created that disturbance in the temple. I'm convinced you are no danger to Rome. You may be a religious fanatic, but not a revolutionary. I shall go out to the crowd and announce my decision.
Roman Soldier: Sure hope the governor can persuade that mob. They seem to be getting unruly.
Pilate: Citizens of Jerusalem, I have examined the prisoner that your leaders have brought to me and have found him innocent. I shall therefore release him.
Caiaphas: (speaks against murmurs of the crowd) No! You can't set him free.
Crowd 1: (shouts) He calls himself the king of the Jews, and we want no king but Caesar.
Pilate: Yes, he's a dreamer, a mystic, but he is no earthly king.
Crowd 2: (shouts) If you set this man free, you're no friend of Caesar. Caesar is our only king.
Crowd 1: (shouts) Away with this man! Kill him!
Pilate: I could have him whipped for disturbing the peace. Would that satisfy you?
Crowd 2: (shouts) That's not enough! Get rid of him!
Pilate: It's Passover and I customarily set one of your people in prison free. I could release Jesus as the annual Passover prisoner.
Caiaphas: (shouts) No! He deserves to die. Crucify him!
Crowd 1: (shouts) Yes, crucify him.
Crowd 2: (shouts) Nail him to a cross. Crucify him.
(Crowd 1 and Crowd 2 begin crying "Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!" gradually they get louder and faster)
Roman Soldier: It looks like it's turning into a riot, and with our small number of troops, we'll never be able to control them. What do you want me to do?
Pilate: Take the prisoner, whip him, and then crucify him. (shouts) Citizens of Jerusalem, I will give in to your wish. I find the prisoner innocent, but I have ordered him to be crucified.
(offstage the whipping of the prisoner is heard)
Pilate: Slave, bring me a bowl of water and a towel. I'm washing my hands of any guilt for this travesty of justice.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
