Pilate (sources)

• BACK TO THE SOURCES--INDEX

Survey of ancient sources on Pontius Pilate.

Roman sources

Pilate Inscription

[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIEUM -- To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum

[...PO]NTIUS PILATUS -- ...Pontius Pilate

[...PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E -- ...prefect of Judea

[...FECIT D]E[DICAVIT] -- ...has dedicated

Tacitus

Christus, from whom the name (Chrestians) had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular.

Christian sources

Gospel of Mark

Trial of Jesus before Pilate -- Mark.15.1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. Mark.15.2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Mark.15.4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” Mark.15.5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Mark.15.8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. Mark.15.12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” Mark.15.14 And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” Mark.15.15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Burial of Jesus -- Mark.15.43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Mark.15.44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.

Gospel of Matthew

Trial of Jesus before Pilate -- Matt.27.2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Matt.27.13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” Matt.27.17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” Matt.27.22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” Matt.27.24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”

Burial of Jesus -- Matt.27.58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Matt.27.62 Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate Matt.27.65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”

Gospel of Luke

Luke.3.1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Luke.13.1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Trial of Jesus before Pilate -- Luke.23.1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. Luke.23.3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Luke.23.4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” Luke.23.6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. Luke.23.11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. Luke.23.12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Luke.23.13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Luke.23.20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, Luke.23.24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

Burial of Jesus -- Luke.23.52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Gospel of John

Trial of Jesus before Pilate -- John.18.29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” John.18.31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” John.18.33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” John.18.35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” John.18.37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John.18.38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. John.19.1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. John.19.4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” John.19.5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” John.19.6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” John.19.8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. John.19.10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” John.19.12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” John.19.13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. John.19.15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” John.19.19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” John.19.21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” John.19.22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Burial of Jesus -- John.19.31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. John.19.38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.

Acts of Apostles

Acts.3:13m -- The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Acts 4:27 -- ...for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel...

Acts 13:28 -- And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.

1 Timothy

1Tim.6.13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

Later Christian traditions

Eusebius

I 9,1 -- (Josephus), in the eighteenth book of his Antiquities, says that about the twelfth year of the reign of Tiberius, who had succeeded to the empire after Augustus had ruled fifty-seven years, Pontius Pilate was entrusted with the government of Judea, and that he remained there ten full years, almost until the death of Tiberius.

II 2,1-2 -- [1] And when the wonderful resurrection and ascension of our Saviour were already noised abroad, in accordance with an ancient custom which prevailed among the rulers of the provinces, of reporting to the emperor the novel occurrences which took place in them, in order that nothing might escape him, Pontius Pilate informed Tiberius of the reports which were noised abroad through all Palestine concerning the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus from the dead. [2] He gave an account also of other wonders which he had learned of him, and how, after his death, having risen from the dead, he was now believed by many to be a God. They say that Tiberius referred the matter to the Senate...

II 5,7 -- Josephus relates... that in Judea, Pilate, under whom the crimes against the Saviour were committed, attempted something contrary to the Jewish law in respect to the temple, which was at that time still standing in Jerusalem, and excited them to the greatest tumults.

VI, 3-7 -- Josephus, who likewise indicates that the misfortunes of the whole nation began with the time of Pilate, and with their daring crimes against the Saviour.

4. Hear what he says in the second book of his Jewish War, where he writes as follows: "Pilate being sent to Judea as procurator by Tiberius, secretly carried veiled images of the emperor, called ensigns, to Jerusalem by night. The following day this caused the greatest disturbance among the Jews. For those who were near were confounded at the sight, beholding their laws, as it were, trampled under foot. For they allow no image to be set up in their city."

5. Comparing these things with the writings of the evangelists, you will see that it was not long before there came upon them the penalty for the exclamation which they had uttered under the same Pilate, when they cried out that they had no other king than Cæsar. John 19:15

6. The same writer further records that after this another calamity overtook them. He writes as follows: After this he stirred up another tumult by making use of the holy treasure, which is called Corban, in the construction of an aqueduct three hundred stadia in length.

7. The multitude were greatly displeased at it, and when Pilate was in Jerusalem they surrounded his tribunal and gave utterance to loud complaints. But he, anticipating the tumult, had distributed through the crowd armed soldiers disguised in citizen's clothing, forbidding them to use the sword, but commanding them to strike with clubs those who should make an outcry. To them he now gave the preconcerted signal from the tribunal. And the Jews being beaten, many of them perished in consequence of the blows, while many others were trampled under foot by their own countrymen in their flight, and thus lost their lives. But the multitude, overawed by the fate of those who were slain, held their peace...

VII 7 -- It is worthy of note that Pilate himself, who was governor in the time of our Saviour, is reported to have fallen into such misfortunes under Caius, whose times we are recording, that he was forced to become his own murderer and executioner; and thus divine vengeance, as it seems, was not long in overtaking him. This is stated by those Greek historians who have recorded the Olympiads, together with the respective events which have taken place in each period.