Articles
Jesus Before Pilate
Jesus Before Pilate
Good news, Pilate! You are being made Governor! Bad news, Pilate! You will be a Roman governor over Judea! So begins a difficult political period of Pilate's life. He was made the prefect of Judea by the emperor Tiberius in A.D. 26. He remained in that position for 10 years, being replaced in A.D. 36. He is mentioned historically not only in the New Testament, but also by Tacitus and Josephus. The New Testament records him as the one who crucified Jesus (Acts 3:13; 4:27; 13:28; and 1 Tim. 6:13).
It isn't clear if he knew what he was in for, but he quickly learned about the problem of the Jews. He tried to put ensigns into the city of Jerusalem that bore the image of Caesar which immediately prompted a large protest. He then used temple funds to pay for an aqueduct for Jerusalem, prompting another large protest. In Luke 13:1 we read of him killing some Galileans and mixing their blood with the sacrifices. In Luke 23:12 we learn that before the crucifixion of Jesus, he and Herod Antipas (in Galilee) had "been at enmity with each other".
The Jewish leaders having decided that Jesus had to die, brought him to Pilate to have the Romans do the dirty work. Punishing an innocent man would be just one more misstep for Pilate hence he tries hard to find something to convict Jesus of or to have Him released. He can accomplish neither goal. He finds nothing worthy of death. He would have released him (Acts 3:13) but at the instance of the Jews he had him crucified. He indicates to the people that 'he was innocent of this man's blood' by washing his hands before them as a symbolic gesture.
Having had Him crucified, Pilate than orders that the charge against Him be displayed at the top of the cross. This was a rather normal thing as it gave public testimony to the nature of the 'crime' that was done. This sign read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).
The final verdict is that Pilate acted in collusion with the Jews and was also guilty of causing the death of Jesus.
Here is the short version of Jesus before Pilate:
- He knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered Him up (Matt. 27:18).
- Are you the King of the Jews? (Matt. 27:11; John 18:33).
- I find no guilt in Him (John 18:38; 19:4, 6; Luke 23:4).
- Do you not know that I have the authority to crucify you? (John 19:10)
- Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, …delivered Jesus to be crucified. (Mark. 15:15).
- I am innocent of this man's blood, see to it yourselves" (Matt. 27:24).
- Behold your King (John 19:14)
- Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19).
Hugh DeLong
