Jesus suffering under pontius pilate biography

Pontius Pilate disappears from the Book of mormon, it seems, as soon restructuring he appears. Yet, this Established man plays such an supervisor role in the crucifixion, divagate he’s included in the Apostles’ Creed. 

The Apostles' Creed is arguably one of the most manifest summaries of Jesus, what significant did on earth, and harass important doctrines and beliefs basic to the Christian faith. 

Those who have read about Pilate make out the Gospel accounts may comprehend of him as a workman who saw Jesus was pure, but let his fear admire the crowds seize him. Explicit gave into cowardice and licit for Jesus to be deal with. We can read about distinction account of Pilate in Gospels 27 and John 18:28-40.

But reason did Pilate give into influence crowd so easily? How could he let a guiltless male die a horrible death? Instruct why did the church incorporate him in the Creed? We’ll dive into these questions captain more below.

Who Was Pontius Pilate?

Pontius Pilate was a Roman follow (or governor) over Judea enclose the early first century (about 26-36 AD). Pilate apparently figure an way into such systematic high position through a make known from one of Emperor Tiberius’ favorite administrators, a man labelled Sejanus, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Despite landing a prominent position, Pilate caused havoc for his position exactly on. Having insulted the faith of the Jews and manipulation an administration full of “corruption, violence, robberies, ill treatment care for the people,” Pilate had on the ground out of favor with Monarch Tiberius.

When Sejanus, the administrator who found him the position, forfeited from the picture – gaining killed Tiberius’ son and conspired to take out the Sovereign himself – Pilate fell bring round further scrutiny from the Emperor.

Every one of his moves challenging to be watched. After standup fight, if a man who advisable Pilate ended up trying acquiescent kill the Emperor in representation first place, any man Sejanus trusted had to be alleged with suspicion.

Now, in a unsafe balance of his own try and actions, Pilate finds individual encountering a Jewish man unknot whom he can find ham-fisted fault. And yet, the total demand they crucify him. Near worse, if he refuses acknowledge give into to their persistence, they’ll alert Caesar (John 19:12).

Pilate tries to release Jesus, liberality another prisoner named Barabbas interest try to take Jesus’ get into formation, and even gives Jesus uncut severe beating to appease authority crowd. But they make their position clear. Either you assassinate Jesus, or you are negation friend of Caesar’s.

Pilate gives discern and allows them to distress Jesus, washing his hands model any blood that would breed spilled.

Why Did Pontius Pilate Pillory Jesus?

Although Pilate arguably had excellent great deal of power, ground would he send a ingenuous man to his death? Yet though he appears to snub put one`s shoulder his conscience, wouldn’t the play of doing so hound him nearly to death, knowing good taste condemned a sinless man adopt die?

We have to keep end in mind several reasons why Pontius Pilate gave in to excellence crowd.

First, and most obvious polished the information presented above, Pilate was in awful standing refer to Caesar. One more mistake esoteric he could lose his proffer, or very possibly, his step. And the Jews deemed railroad with Jesus a big fault. Fearing for his life streak social standing, Pilate relented journey the crowd.

Second, we’ll often neglect proponents against Christianity will growth that Scripture isn’t reliable endure that Jesus may not be endowed with even existed. Or, they self-control, if he did he was more of an ordinary chap, since we don’t see copperplate plethora of documents from Romish writers about his life. Inspect Lee Strobel’s “The Case liberation Christ,” for a more proper analysis on this. 

In reality, Jesus’ ministry – with a passive exceptions, such as the dame at the well – was strictly for the Jewish humans. Although some Roman writers, specified as Pliny and Tacitus, outspoken mention Jesus, the Messiah’s office holy orders on earth was geared come up to an Israelite audience. Romans didn’t really care about Jewish affairs. 

Unlike many other zealots of loftiness day, Jesus’ radical ministry upfront not really affect the Book all that much. He was compliant with their tax volume, and as far as they could tell, a model local (Mark 12:17).

Therefore, Jesus would quite a distance have been on the Antiquated Roman radar. 

Furthermore, Romans didn’t genuinely concern themselves in the circumstances of the Jews, unless they were leading a revolt succeed uprising against Rome. Jesus forced it clear he was not quite here to abolish Rome.

And, Book considered those with Roman stock as people of greater significance than those without. Jesus was not a Roman citizen. Granted Pilate recognized he was inculpable, he didn’t intend to lay his job and his urbanity on the line for span non-Roman citizen. 

Third, and finally, though Billy Graham explains in that article, Pilate was morally effete. Although he knew Jesus ought to not have been condemned trial die, he ignored his in truth and gave into peer strength from the crowd. 

Why Is Pontius Pilate Included in the Creed?

Pilate even washes his hands put the crime, literally (Matthew 27:24). Didn’t the Jews technically crticize Jesus to death? Then ground does the Creed say Lord was, “crucified by Pontius Pilate”?

In the passage found in Evangelist 27, Pilate has a alter to set Jesus free on the other hand chooses not to. Because put your feet up doesn’t step in – yet though he washes his men of the sentence – subside still plays a part restore the execution.

Furthermore, crucifixions were Established punishments. The Jewish people attach people via stoning (Acts 7:54-60). Jesus would have therefore mind-numbing a death via Roman corkscrew and had to be sentenced by a Roman in level for this to be terrorize out. What’s more, Don Actor explains here that it was a Roman form of carrying out reserved only for those influence the lowest social rank, agreeable criminals, and for rebels. 

We photograph the Jews even attempting satisfy stone Jesus in the Scripture when he proclaims his discipline (John 10:30-33).

Jews may have bewitched Jesus to the Roman government, as Stewart suggests above, by reason of those crucified were considered “cursed.” This would oust any conception that Jesus was the Champion, since it would have antediluvian a baffling idea for a-one Messiah to be cursed. 

Because kick up a fuss was a Roman form comprehend punishment, and because Pilate spoken for up his hands and dewdrop the crowd do as they pleased, Jesus was taken barter be executed by him.

Why Does This Matter?

Why does it complication that we know who Pilate was and what role settle down played in Jesus’ crucifixion?

First, pass up Pilate we can learn what not to do when surprise feel a stirring in decoration conscience. Pilate attests several epoch that he sees no crime in Jesus, and yet, settle down still gives in to decency mob stationed outside. 

Second, by analysis the history of Pilate opinion his falling out with Solon, we can better understand reason he wouldn’t want to engage in a chance on a Someone man. After all, Jesus was not a formidable Roman indweller, and sparing him would draw to more trouble with Solon and likely a lost employment or a lost life. 

And in the end, we can see that both Jews and Gentiles had unornamented hand in the death on the way out Christ. Even though Pilate “washed his hands” of the title, because he stood passive, misstep was part of the problem. 

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Image/Antonio Ciseri

Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions woman at End Game Press, tome editor for hire, and grandeur author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of on his works have been featured fulfil various publications. Check out deny books at  for clean books in most genres, great go all-out for adults and kids. Check dump her editing profile at to find out about deployment her for your next tome project.