This is the senior pastor bringing the message pontius pilate in completing my long series of sermons from the book of mark, i thought i would like to present a sermon on this ruler who consigned jesus to death. Pilate has barabbas released, lets jesus be flogged and sends him off to be crucified. Pilate, pontius roman governor of judaea during the time of jesus ministry. He was likely a roman knight who rose to prominence through military service. He gave into cowardice and allowed for jesus to be killed. As soon as jesus died, joseph of arimathea asked pilate for the body of jesus in order to bury him, and pilate granted the request john 19. Pilate didnt have the luxury of thinking about it over the weekend. Pilate features prominently in russian author mikhail bulgakovs novel the master and margarita, which was written in the 1930s but only published in 1966, twenty six years after the authors death. Pontius pilate, a highranked official in judaea, is who many blame for the death of jesus. To most of the christian world, pontius pilate is known only for the role he played in the judgment and crucifixion of jesus christ.
Matthew 27 new king james version nkjv jesus handed over to pontius pilate. The first episode, the pilate stone, focuses on the historical impact of pontius pilate, who sentenced jesus to death. Matthew gives the impression that pilate just sat there transfixed. Is the pilate of christian tradition the real pontius pilate, the. Matthew 27 nkjv jesus handed over to pontius pilate bible. Therefore of them being gathered together, pilate said to them, whom want you that i shall release to you. While he was sitting on the judges bench, his wife sent word to him, have. Roger cailloiss novel pontius pilate is a compeling look at the dilemma that pontius pilate, procurator of judea, may have faced in making the decision to execute jesus. Matthew 27 is the 27th chapter in the gospel of matthew, part of the new testament in the. Any biography of pontius pilate would have to be conjectural. Jesus has been arrested, deserted by his male disciples, denied by peter, beaten and humiliated by callous men under the jurisdiction of the high priest, and he is now standing before pilate. Matthew 27 nkjv jesus handed over to pontius pilate. Dont have anything to do with this innocent man, for i have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him matthew 27. The only time the new testament talks about pilate s wife is in matthew 27.
The trial of pilatea touchstone to the death of jesus. Pontius pilate was a roman governor under the emperor of tiberius in the 1st century. The book of matthew claims pilates wife had a dream about jesus. Shortly afterwards, french writer roger caillois wrote a novel pontius pilate 1936, in which pilate acquits jesus. Paul maiers book, pontius pilate, is a masterpiece of historical fiction heavy emphasis on the historical. Pontius pilate served as the prefect of judaea from 26 to 36 a. Pontius pilate, roman prefect governor of judaea who presided at the trial of jesus and. Persuasively argued, but if pilate was capable of so badly misgauging jewish sentiment once, he could do so againand think jesus was an important enough figure among the jews as to make him worthy of some small postmortem consideration. Very little, except that she was highborn, roman, welleducated and wealthy and the wife of the roman governor, pontius pilate, at the time of jesus death on the morning of the. Learn more about this biblical figure and his historical significance. I read this book back when i was thirteen, but at pastor klats urging decided to reread it for lent. When therefore they were gathered together, pilate said to them, whom do you want me to release for you. They had failed to defend the roman seal place on jesus tomb, so pontius pilate, the roman governor matthew 28. While pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message.
Wilbur chapman jacob jesus john the baptist joseph matthew book. Matthew mainly puts the blame on judas and the bloodthirsty crowd thats egged on by. We can read about the account of pilate in matthew 27 and john 18. This verse introduces pontius pilate in the gospel of matthew. The life of pontius pilate is difficult to accurately trace outside of his stature as a roman ruler.
Justin martyr remarks in his first apology 35 after he has mentioned the passion and crucifixion of jesus. Matthew 27 verses 126 1 when the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against jesus to put him to death. In later tradition, she becomes known as procula latin. The horrific dream of the wife of pontius pilate about. It is uncertain whether pilate was actually married, although it is likely. Verses 310 then contain an account of judas suicide. The iconic scene of pilate washing his hands is based on the gospel of matthew 27.
Pontius pilate s brief appearance in scripture is full of tragedy. In the book of matthew, he is the one who judges jesus in his trial for his claim to be the king, which conflicted with the roman rule. He is believed to have hailed from the samnium region of central italy. If one is searching for a single book that explores the historical realities of pilate, his term as prefect of judea, and the trial of jesus, this is that one book. He convicted jesus of treason and declared that jesus thought himself king of the jews, and had jesus crucified. Pontius pilate was a roman prefect or governor over judea in the early first century about 2636 ad. Hi ornoriode, while pilate was sitting on the judges seat, his wife sent him this message. Pontius pilate, roman prefect governor of judaea who presided at the trial of jesus and gave the order for his crucifixion.
Pontius pilate s wife is the unnamed spouse of pontius pilate, who appears only once in the gospel of matthew, where she intercedes with pilate on jesus behalf. Matthew mainly puts the blame on judas and the bloodthirsty crowd thats egged on by the religious authorities. Either out of a genuine concern for justice or out of a sardonic resistance to the jews petty politics, pontius pilate wanted to free christ. Pontius pilate was the roman prefect governor of judea around a. The letter of pontius pilate which he wrote to the roman emperor, concerning lord jesus christ. The gospel of nicodemus, formerly called the acts of pontius pilate.
While pilate was sitting on the judges seat, his wife sent him this message. The verse in matthew certainly makes pilate a more sympathetic figure to christians than the one presented in the creeds. And that these things happened you can ascertain from the acts of pontius pilate. Allow me to call your attention to some of the unique contributions of each of the four gospels. Why did pontius pilates wife dream about jesus in matthew. My vague memories of the book involved a jewish uprising about shields, a sweet romance between pilate and his wife, and a centurion named cornelius.
By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the passover. Pontius pilates wife knew jesus was innocent marg mowczko. Jesus handed over to pontius pilate when morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against jesus to put him to death. The last glimpse we have of pontius pilate is when he assigns guards for jesus tomb matthew 27. Lets examine at the tradition of pontius pilate s wife and the horrific dream that she had in matthew 27 and how it relates to the apostles and nicene creed. I find no case against him, says pilate about jesus in john 18. Those who have read about pilate in the gospel accounts may know of him as a man who saw jesus was guiltless, but let his fear of the crowds seize him. Who was pontius pilate and why did he allow jesus to be. Although this gospel is, by some among the learned, supposed to have been really written by nicodemus, who became a disciple of jesus christ, and conversed with him.
The letters of pontius pilate and herod concerning jesus. Pontius pilates wife wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. In the gospel accounts of the trial of jesus, philo and joseph described. Pilate is a historical figure attested from contemporary sources, including the histories of josephus. Bible scriptures mentioning pontius pilate bible history. Pilate took some water and washed his hands before the. This story is inserted into matthew s report of our lords arrest. Pontius pilate is where the classical world meets the biblical, a pagan european man in the monotheistic middle east, the imperial governor over a notoriously rebellious region, and a player in perhaps the most famous execution in history. Following on the finding jesus cnn series two years ago, this new sixweek series extends beyond the book by david gibson and michael mckinley1 toward examining other historical artifacts and their relations to the portraits of jesus we find in the gospels. According to the gospel of matthew, pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd before announcing, i am innocent of this mans blood. Dont have anything to do with that innocent man, for i have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.
The dream of pilate s wife in chapters 26 and 27 of matthew s gospel, the author sets a compelling scene. Pilate brings him forth this is the only detail that needs to be supplied in order to make the harmony complete, and in itself it is probable enough, and many accusations are made against him, to which, to pilate s surprise, he makes no reply matthew 27. Is there more information on pontius pilate s wife, claudia, besides her dream and the fact that she told pilate not to sentence jesus to death. Some acts of pilate, it seems, were known as early as the second century. In matthews gospel, the religious authorities hand jesus over to pilate to seal the deal. In the christian tradition, pontius pilate is forever associated with one event, wrote warren carter, a professor of new testament at brite divinity school in fort worth, texas, in his book. Archaeology they led him away and delivered him to pontius pilate matthew 27. Pilate s wife warned him, pilate didnt listen what do we know about pilate s wife. Barabbas, in the new testament, a prisoner mentioned in all four gospels who was chosen by the crowd, over jesus christ, to be released by pontius pilate in a customary pardon before the feast of passover. Pontius pilate is, shock of all shocks, a novel about the live of pontius. The four gospel accounts of the trial of jesus before. Yet somehow, the guy actually ordering the crucifying gets off scotfree. Then, at verse 11, the account of jesus trial before pilate continues. The book of matthew records that at this moment, pilate s wife suddenly appears begging him to let jesus go because of a dream she just had.
Little is known of pontius pilate before he arrived in judea in ad 26. This has made him a very controversial character in the bible, and there. He had asked the question and in that instant the message came from his wife. Pontius pilate was the governor of judea at the time of our lords crucifixion. Lacking in the end the requisite moral strength, he remanded christ over to the garrison for crucifixion, but not until he had literally washed his hands of the whole affair. Despite the fact that it was pilate who sent jesus to the humiliating and painful death on the cross, the christian tradition is remarkably excusatory of pontius pilate starting with the gospel portrayal of jesus before pilate. Pontius pilate, latin in full marcus pontius pilatus, died after 36 ce, roman prefect governor of judaea 2636 ce under the emperor tiberius who presided at the trial of jesus and gave the order for his crucifixion. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to pontius pilate the governor. At the same time, herod antipas 146 ruled over galilee and perea.
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