Bible Biographies - Pontius Pilate

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:2,11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-5,13-25; John 18:28-19:16.

BIOGRAPHY

Pilate was of German origin. He was brought up near the borders of the Roman Empire. He trained in Rome as he was of royal birth. It was during this time that because of a fight he was dispatched to the Black Sea region to put down an uprising. He was successful and received the title Pontius after the Black Sea region of Pontus. Pilate was appointed procurator of Judea by Tiberias in 26 AD, Judea being a third-class province.

He initiated three actions which antagonized the Jews. Firstly, he marched the Roman army from its base in Caesarea to Jerusalem and hung the shields of the army on the walls of the city. These shields had pagan gods which infuriated the Jews. When the Jews protested to Tiberius, Pilate took some of his soldiers, put them in civilian clothing and ordered them to kill some Jews.

Finally he took over the Temple treasury and extracted a huge sum of money to build a 60 kilometer aqueduct from a water spring to Jerusalem. Such action by the procurator frustrated the Jews and almost caused a riot. Pontius Pilate was again reprimanded by the emperor. He was a brilliant person, a good administrator but weak, and under a lot of political pressure when Jesus was brought before him. He sought expediency and compromise rather than justice. Some three years after the death of Christ, Pilate was removed by Caligula and in disgrace he committed suicide.

SUMMARY

(Matthew 27):

a) Because the power to execute those guilty of committing a capital offence had been withdrawn from the Jews by Rome in 6 AD the elders brought Jesus to Pilate (verse 2).

b) Pilate questions Jesus as to if he is the King of the Jews. Jesus says, Yes. (Thou sayest) (verse 11).

c) He refuses to answer the religious leaders. In the Roman court the accusers would speak first (verse 12) (Isaiah 53:7).

d) Jesus' silence amazes Pilate (verses 13,14).

e) The sixth and most important trial where Jesus is found innocent yet condemned (verses 15-26).

f) Pilate attempts to use a custom to release Jesus (verse 15).

g) The choice given was Jesus (the Son of God) (verse 16,17), or Barabbas (the son of the Father, the son of man).

h) Pilate was aware of the reason for the trial - mental sins (verse 18).

i) Pilate's wife gave good advice and confirms Jesus' innocence (verse 19).

j) The religious leaders manipulate the mob to secure the release of Barabbas (verses 20,21).

k) The mob cry for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (verse 22).

l) Pilate makes one last attempt to save Jesus but the mob increases their pressure on him, resulting in Pilate condemning a person who he knows is innocent (verses 23,24).

LIFE LESSONS

a) Political expediency perverts truth and justice (1 Kings 21:8-13).

b) True leadership requires moral courage (Genesis 44:18-34; 49:8-10).

c) God can use the weaknesses in a person's character in His plan (Romans 9:17).

d) Using the wrong means (traditional release of a prisoner at the Passover) to attain an object (the release of an innocent person) can cause disaster (Numbers 20:8-12).

e) In times of great stress good advice is often rejected (cf. Nitocris' advice to Belshazzar in Daniel 5) (1 Kings 12:6-16).

f) A mob never thinks rationally but relies on its emotions (Genesis 19:4).

g) Oaths can bring great suffering (Judges 11:31-40).

h) Expediency and appeasement ends in disaster (Judges 2:2,3).

i) Expediency puts off eventual catastrophe: it solves no problems (Genesis 12:10-20).