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According to Christian tradition, Pilate's Wife (Procula, or Claudia) tried to save Jesus of Nazareth at his trial.

Overview

Pilate's wife is known only by one verse in the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel of Nicodemus (4th cent.) provides a longer version of the narrative, claiming the Pilate's wife was a God-fearer and followed the customs of the Jews. The text has "the Jews" reply that it was Jesus who sent the dream "as he was a sorcerer."

Later Christian tradition would give Pilate's wife a name, Procula, speculating on her relation with Jesus and her conversion to Christianity. The chronicle of Pseudo-Dexter (1619) is the first place known where she is referred to as Claudia.

Since the time of Origen, Christian theologians were divided whether her dream came from God (so that she would convert) or by the Devil (to prevent Jesus from fulfilling his mission).

Pilate's wife, in ancient sources

Gospel of Matthew (1st cent.)

Mt 27:19 -- While Pilate was sitting in the judgment hall, his wife sent him a message: "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, because in a dream last night, I suffered much on account of him."

Gospel of Nicodemus; or, Acts of Pilate (4th cent.)

2.1 -- Now when Pilate saw it he was afraid, and sought to rise up from the judgement-seat. And while he yet thought to rise up, his wife sent unto him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with this just man, for I have suffered many things because of him by night. And Pilate called unto him all the Jews, and said unto them: Ye know that my wife feareth God and favoureth rather the customs of the Jews, with you? They say unto him: Yea, we know it. Pilate saith unto them: Lo, my wife hath sent unto me, saying: Have thou nothing to do with this just man: for I have suffered many things because of him by night. But the Jews answered and said unto Pilate: Said we not unto thee that he is a sorcerer? behold, he hath sent a vision of a dream unto thy wife.

11:2 -- 2 But the centurion reported unto the governor the things that had come to pass [at the death of Jesus]: and when the governor and his wife heard, they were sore vexed, and neither ate nor drank that day. And Pilate sent for the Jews and said unto them: Did ye see that which came to pass? But they said: There was an eclipse of the sun after the accustomed sort.

Pilate's wife, in the arts

The wife of Pilate was the major character in one of the York Mystery Plays, where the Devil is said to be at the origin of her dream, but otherwise her figure is virtually absent in ancient Christian iconography.

The interest in the character arose only in the 19th century, notably, in literature, since Charlotte Brontë wrote the poem "Pilate's Wife's Dream" in 1846.

Pilate's wife is also present in some Jesus Movies, sometimes offering the opportunity of a cameo to famous actresses. In the 1952 Studio One episode "Pontius Pilate" depicted Procula as half-Jewish (and she would be brought before Pilate as a Christian rebel herself, fifteen years after Jesus' death). In the 1961 King of Kings she is identified as the daughter of the Emperor Tiberius. In The Passion of the Christ (2004 Gibson), film, she actively lobbied her husband to save Jesus and showed kindness toward Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene.

More creatively, some novelists, such as Hilda Doolittle, Esther Kellner, and Antoinette May, have made Pilate's wife the protagonist of elaborated narratives, others have used her as a valid counterpart in narratives about Pilate.

For more details about fictional works where Pilate's wife has a role of protagonist, see Category:Pilate's wife--fiction (subject).

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  Message of Pilate's Wife (1894 Tissot), art

Related categories

• Pilate / Jesus of Nazareth

External links

• Wikipedia