Pontius Pilate

Pilate governed Judea for ten years under the emperor Tiberius, as successor to Valerius Gratus (Josephus, Antiquities 18.33–35) (Josephus, Antiquities 18.85–89). The years usually given are AD 26 to 36. An inscription in his name from Caesarea Maritima gives his title as prefect of Judea; the opening letters of the name and of the title are lost and are restored by editors (Pilate Stone lines 2–3).

Josephus tells of three clashes. Pilate brought military standards bearing the emperor’s image into Jerusalem by night and withdrew them only after days of protest. He paid for an aqueduct out of the temple treasury and had the protesting crowd beaten by soldiers in disguise, with many deaths (Josephus, Antiquities 18.55–62) (Josephus, Jewish War 2.169–177). Finally he sent troops against a crowd of Samaritans gathering at Mount Gerizim; the Samaritans complained to Vitellius, the governor of Syria, who ordered him to Rome to answer to the emperor. Tiberius died before he arrived (Josephus, Antiquities 18.85–89). Philo, a contemporary, preserves a letter that calls him inflexible, merciless and obstinate and says that he set up gilded shields in Herod’s palace at Jerusalem until Tiberius ordered them removed (Philo, Embassy to Gaius 299–305). Luke mentions Galileans “whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1).

The Gospels show him questioning Jesus, declaring that he finds no case against him, and then ordering his crucifixion (Mark 15:1–15; John 18:28–19:16); see the Trials before the Council and Pilate and the Crucifixion. Tacitus, writing about AD 115–120, likewise says that Christus was put to death by Pontius Pilatus under Tiberius (Tacitus, Annals 15.44). His name entered Christian confession early (1 Timothy 6:13) and stands in the creed: “crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate” (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed).

Eusebius, writing nearly three centuries later, repeats a report that he killed himself under the emperor Gaius (Eusebius, Church History 2.7).