PONTIUS PILATE

PART 1 -- INTRODUCTION OF PONTIUS PILATE

The banners were flying, the horses marching in the order guided. Soldier’s rhythmically marching behind. The flags and symbols clearly displaying the image of the divine emperor. Riding atop one of the great horses was a man. As the Jews could gather, they could grumble amongst themselves. It was shortly after 26 AD Pontius Pilate was moving his military headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

The Jews didn’t like being governed by the Romans, but it was alright. They still had a lot of their power and influence. As I’m sure they could murmur about this new chief official coming in to govern them they probably weren’t aware of the full impact of his character.

Pilate was not a dumb man, he was very intelligent. Even though he had soldiers at his command. Pilate with the family name of Pontius was more apt to use tactics and wits to stir up the Jews who were under his power.

Pilate lived in Caesarea, a neighbouring city but with his military presence in Jerusalem, he took it upon himself to decorate the area with symbols of the emperor. His goal was to increase Roman influence, but fell short. The Jews complained in his home city to a degree that he threatened to have them killed. When the Jews showed their willingness to die for this he immediately called back his decision and had the symbols of the emperor removed. He was not willing to kill so many of the Jews.

Pilate taunted the Jews in other ways as well by hanging images of the emperor throughout Jerusalem to be worshipped. He also it is reported made coins with religious pagan symbols on them.

Pilate was constantly in conflict with the Jewish authorities. He would do things such as taking temple money to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem. When the Jews complained about this, Pilate was ready for them. He secretly put soldiers in the crowd dressed as civilians, they surprise attacked the protestors, beating them and ending the uproar.

One problem Pilate had was the fact that the Jews would report him to Tiberius, the Emperor, causing Pilate trouble on many occasions, even charges of murder. Taking this in mind it helps also to add impact to some of the things the Jews would quote to him during the crucifixion of the Messiah.

Which brings up the greatest event that ever happened in Pilate’s life, the meeting of Jesus Christ. The Messiah.

Because of this happening in Pilate’s life and the recording of events in the New Testament. There are people today, that in some religious groups claim Pilate became a Christian, while there are others who will proclaim loudly that Pilate’s actions showed his rejection of the Lord and is in hell today.

The point of this paper is to follow Pilate’s actions throughout the trial of Christ, and see if there is actually any ground to say that Pilate is in hell.

In this paper it will be split up into many small categories. The reason is to show each step taken in Christ’s trail at the hands of Pilate. The references come from the 4 gospels combined together, to show the complete actions of Pilate

PART 2 -- PILATE INTRODUCED TO CHRIST

JEWS DELIVER CHRIST TO PILATE
Matthew 27:11
Mark 15:1
Luke 23:1 -- And they all went and took him before Pilate.
John 18:28

As many know, the Jews hated Christ because He showed them for who they were (John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.). Christ’s plan was to come into the world to die for me and you -- sinners. The Jews hated Christ so the day finally came when He allowed them to deliver Him to the governor, the one who ruled and made the final decision for death penalty situations -- Pontius Pilate.

PILATE ASKING WHY
John 18:29 -- Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

Pilate immediately could ask them as they could approach: “ok, what’s the charges?”

CHARGES LAID
Luke 23:2 -- And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

The charges were presented. Christ didn’t pay tribute to Caesar which was a false claim (Mt. 22:21) among other claims. The main one as you will see is the charge of Him being King.

PILATE TRIES TO GET RID OF CHRIST
John 18:31 -- Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

Pilate from the start wanted no part in this action, he wanted rid of this situation. As far as the Jews claiming they were not allowed to put one to death is not entirely true, they exercised their ability for execution when they stoned Stephen in Acts chapter 7. They seemed to be able to do it on grounds of religion. When it came to Christ though, they wished the Romans to do it, perhaps they were afraid of a revolt, but it was to fulfill the scriptures.


PILATE STATES THE QUESTION: “Who Are You?”
Matthew 27:11
Mark 15:1
Luke 23:3 -- And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? …
John 18:33-37

The beginning of a long dialogue begins for Pilate and Christ with the simple question “Are you the King of the Jews?”

PILATE MARVELS
Matthew 27: 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Mark 15:4,5

This is the beginning of the amazement that Pilate had for Jesus Christ. He was so used to the loud outspoken objections of the people around him. He now had someone who being accused of things remained quiet, and spoke not a word in His defence.



PILATE FINDS NO FAULT
Luke 23:4
John 18: 32-38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Pilate could question Christ about the claims made against Him, imagine the confusion Pilate was hearing as he could listen to Christ. Speaking about a kingdom not of this world and of truth. It could cause Pilate to wonder out loud to Christ “What is the truth?” Pilate immediately goes out and tells the people “I find nothing at all wrong with this man.”



WANTED TO FREE HIM
John 18: 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Pilate’s mind is working, he thinks of the custom they have of releasing a prisoner during the Passover, so he hopes that they would use it to free the King of the Jews. You see here Pilate is not questioning that claim in this section but is making the statement.



PART 3 -- HEROD’S INTRODUCTION

The people began to ramble at the statement that Pilate had made. They did not want Christ free, they had already a man chosen out to have free! They wanted Barabbas, a murderer

In the people’s accusations they mention Galilee, Pilot picked up on this, Galilee was outside of his jurisdiction. If Christ was from Galilee then he didn’t have to deal with this problem that was on his hands. He knew exactly what he would do.

CHRIST SENT TO HEROD
Luke 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

As Christ entered into Herod, Herod had heard about Christ (Luke 23:8,9) Herod wanted Christ to perform a miracle for him, when He wouldn’t Herod questioned him but was not getting results that he liked, so him and the men around Christ began to mock him, here you are presented with the first royal garment put on Christ in mockery (v.11). Herod took lightly on this one standing in front of him. He didn’t have time for this and wanted nothing to do with it and sent Christ back to Pilate (v12)



PART 4 -- CHRIST’S RETURN TO PILATE

PILATE AGAIN (AFTER HEROD INCIDENT) CALLS ALL TOGETHER -- NO FAULT!
Luke 23: 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

Pilate when he takes his place calls all together to tell them again that he finds no fault with Christ, there is nothing about him that is worthy of death.



PILOT’S WIFE
Matthew 27: 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

While this was going on, Pilot’s wife could send a message to him, pleading that he would have no part with this just man. To leave him alone

This now as well was working on Pilot’s mind, he couldn’t find anything wrong with this man! He marvelled at the man named Jesus for his calmness, he wondered about the truth that He spoke about. He had began to call him the King of the Jews. Now his wife!?



GOING TO RELEASE CHRIST
Luke 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Mark 15:6-9

Pilate had a desire to release Jesus of Nazareth. He didn’t want to do this. With all the things in his head, what was he to do? So again he attempts to release Christ, yet this time adds in scourges, is it not possible that due to the hatred the people had towards Christ, if Pilate whipped Him, perhaps that would be enough punishment and all would be fine. Here we see Pilate again doing like he did in the past. There was something he wanted to do, but the pressure of the multitude started to show him starting to cave into what they want.

That simple act does not automatically condemn one to hell though. Continue reading.

NO! THEY WANT BARABBAS!
Matthew 27: 17-21
Mark 15: 11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
Luke 23:18

Now it is Barabbas’s turn to be brought out The Jews knew which man they wanted , they wanted a murderer (Mark 15:7). They would rather have him roaming their streets then the Christ.

PILATE PLEADS AGAIN
Luke 23: 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

With the decision made, Pilate again attempts to change their minds again, with no luck.


WHAT THEN WITH JESUS?
Matthew 27:22
Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

Pilate attempts to emphasize on the title “King of the Jews”, what was he going to do with the Lord? If they wanted to free Barabbas, now what?

CRUCIFY!!
Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mark 15:14
Luke 23:21

The people did not have to hesitate when that question was asked. They knew exactly what they wanted done. They wanted Christ crucified!


BUT WHY!?
Matthew 27:23
Mark 15:14
Luke 23:22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

Pilate confused again had to ask “Why!? What has He done wrong?” Again he pleads, just scourging and then let him go? Pilate did not want to execute Christ yet at the same time did not want to multitude angry with him, because when they got angry with him, he got in trouble with the Emperor.

CRUCIFY!!
Matthew 27:23
Mark 15:14
Luke 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

The people would hear nothing of it. They wanted Christ crucified and Barabbas released


PART 5 -- PILATE GIVES OVER CHRIST

GAVE UP - GAVE IN
Luke 23: 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Pilate could not keep up with the power of the multitude. Even though he was the governor, as times in the past, Pilate was not prepared for such a multitude against him and he buckled under the pressure and allowed the multitude to carry out their wishes.

WASHED HANDS
Matthew 27: 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Pilate could see that an uproar was about to happen. A large number of people were gathered around him.

So the only thing he could do was to “wash his hands of it” The act of washing someone’s hand was to show that they were innocent of a matter (Psalm 26:6). This was in good intention but Pilate seemed to have forgotten that he was the one that was in charge of the multitude. He was the governor. It was still his duty to free a prisoner that was wrongfully accused. He forgot about this though it would seem, and giving into the multitude he wanted all to know that he in no way wanted part in the execution of an innocent person.

RELEASED BARABBAS
Matthew 27:26 ¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Mark 15:15
Luke 23:25

After performing the act of trying to show his innocence. Pilate then continued to do their wishes by releasing Barabbas to the multitude.


WHIPPED
Matthew 27:26 ¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Mark 15:15
John 19:1

Pilate washed his hands of the matter, released Barabbas and then even though he did not want to be held accountable for the actions. He still went through with the whipping the Saviour .Something done before a crucifixion. Earlier he used whipping as an excuse to try and release Christ this time he is fulfilling his role as a Judge. Then as a Judge he releases Christ to the multitude to be crucified.

Pilate was as guilty of the death of Christ as was the Jews -- as are we.

GAVE CHRIST TO MULTITUDE
Matthew 27:26
Mark 15:15 ¶ And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
Luke 23:25

After the whipping was complete which would have been tremendously painful Pilate delivers Christ out of his hands and now into the hands of the Multitude to be crucified.

SOLDIERS INFLICT THEIR PUNISHMENT
Matthew 25: 27-31
Mark 15: 16-20
John 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

These references touch on the punishments inflicted upon Christ

PART 6 -- PILATE REAPPEARS IN DEFENCE OF CHRIST

AGAIN, NO FAULT
John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

After all that happened to the Saviour by the multitude, now Pilate has suddenly reappeared. He brought the Lord in front of all the people and exclaimed again “I find nothing wrong with this man!”

CRUCIFY HIM!!
John 19: 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. …

The multitude must have looked at Pilate a bit strange for this sudden outburst again.

YOU DO IT! -- I WANT NO PART!
John 19: 6 … Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

We all know the fact that Pilate released Christ to the multitude actually made him even more guilty over the simple fact that it was his duty to preserve the innocent.

Yet if you haven’t already did this, please take a moment and put yourself at the scene that day. Pilate had a roaring crowd around him. He had sent Christ to Herod to try and get rid of the mob, that didn’t work, he made excuses, he did everything, in attempt to keep the crowd of people calm but freeing Jesus of Nazareth. With Pilate being as much of a human as we are, he wasn’t thinking rationally and did what he thought at that present time was the best for him. These actions here do not yell at us “Pilate is in hell!”

EQUALITY WITH GOD
John 19: 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

The Jews felt Christ should die for what they felt was blasphemy. The Lord Jesus Christ was claiming to be equal with God!

PILATE SCARED
John 19: 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

Pilate listening to the multitude heard something that scared him greatly. Imagine him thinking “What! This man equal to God!?”

PILATE QUESTIONS CHRIST
John 19: 9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

As we can see in verse 9. Pilate immediately goes into Jesus and asks “Where are you from!?” But the Lord said nothing. Pilate begins to plead “why won’t you tell me?” From his next statement we clearly see he has not grasped the deity of the one in front of him.

But we see that from the next topic, what Christ says and His actions certainly stir Pilate up. If Pilate was truly trying to show his authority over the Lord, he would have retaliated back at the last statement Christ made here. “You have no power at all over me” But it humbles Pilate and



RELEASE HIM
John 19: 12 From this time Pilate sought to release him;….

After this encounter Pilate again attempts to release the Saviour


PILATE BLACKMAILED
John 19: 12: …but the Jews cried out saying, If thou releasest this man, thou art not a friend to Caesar. Every one making himself a king speaks against Caesar.

People will say again and again. “look you see, Pilate chose the people over Christ” a sure sign he’s in hell.

One important thing we need to realize about Pontius Pilate is that he was a Roman, he was not a Jew. Pilate would have revered the Emperor, worshipped him and other pagan gods. This whole thing of the Son of God is a new experience for Pilate up this close. He is all confused by what is going on. He obviously is afraid of the Emperor and thinks about his personal earthly relations first off.


PILATE BRINGS FORTH JESUS CHRIST
John 19:13 Pilate therefore, having heard these words, led Jesus out and sat down upon the judgment-seat, at a place called Pavement, but in Hebrew Gabbatha;

YOUR KING!!
John 19:14 (now it was the preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour;) and he says to the Jews, Behold your king!

Again Pilate brings this point home, some would say in ridicule, others would not be so sure, from the fact that Pilate attempted so hard to release Christ (yet keep all happy) and the claim of being the Son of God, stirred up Pilate.

CRUCIFY HIM!!
John 19:15 But they cried out, Take him away, take him away, crucify him. Pilate says to them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

The simple statement they made here was the same charge that they were attempting to accuse the Lord with. Blasphemy -- for no other king did they have, no other worship were they to give, other then to God.

PILATE RELEASES CHRIST BACK TO THE MULTITUDE
John 19:16 ¶ Then therefore he delivered him up to them, that he might be crucified; and they took Jesus and led him away.

Finally once again Pilate gives in to the crowd.



PILATE NOT DONE YET -- WRITES A TITLE
John 19: 19 ¶ And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Pilate could begin to write something and then stick it upon the cross of the Lord. As everyone passed by they could read it. For Hebrew, Greek and Latin were the official languages at that time.

Hebrew being the language of the country
Greek the language being used at that time
Latin -- The Official language


JEWS DISLIKE THE TITLE
John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

The chief priests as they could read the title felt the impact of the words and did not like it. They once again demanded that it was reworded. They did not want any association with this man.

PILATE REFUSES
John 19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Pilate couldn’t take anymore. He was no longer giving in to the multitude. He had made a claim and was not changing it. I’m sure he was tired of the events that had taken place. Tired of the blackmailing he had received and the fact that he gave in to the multitude. Pilate made a claim, all would know who wrote it and he left it there. Whether he truly believed it is not for us to decide. He I’m sure would often think back to that day, would he truly acknowledge Christ for who He was?

PILATE MARVELS
Mark 15: 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Pilate again was surprised by this man named Jesus of Nazareth. He died so quickly, Pilate couldn’t believe what he heard and had to ask a soldier to confirm the truth.




PART 7 -- CONCLUSION NOTES

PILATE LOST POINT OF VIEW

The ones who believe Pilate never got saved would think things such as

Rejected Christ
Had Christ Put to Death
Chose popularity over Christ
Gave into the pressure
Because of his actions it is clear that he is in hell.




PILATE’S DEFENCE


First I would like to take the first 2 points and say something simple about them and then you think about them. Did you put Christ to death? Yes you did. Do you know why? And second part. If you are saved, how old were you before you got saved? Were you not in a form rejecting Christ before that? If you are not saved now, what are you doing?

(John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.)

Now let’s take the next 2 points

Does giving into pressure or choosing popularity automatically mean you land in hell? Of course not, Let me use one man for these two points and the next one. Paul the Apostle before his salvation was very popular with the Jews. He hated the Christians, he could never think of portraying the Jews and their hatred in Christianity at the time.

The last point is. Paul was a wicked man. Hated Jesus of Nazareth, hated the Christians. He even watched over the execution of Stephen. So surely with all these points against Paul like we did against Pilate, surely Paul landed in hell.

But he didn’t. Why not? Cause Christ loved him. There came a day in Paul’s life with he realized this, and trusted the Saviour.

Pilate’s main role in scripture was for the crucifixion scene, how do we know what happened?

Look at some interesting points from His experience with the Lord.

Pilate enquires on what the truth is -- John 18:38

Names Christ as King. (gives him authority) -- John 18:40

Attempts to show the Lord’s innocence -- Matthew 27:24

Finds no fault -- John 19:4,5

Pilate Scared -- John 19:8

Seeks the truth -- John 18:38, John 19:9-11

Continues to marvel at Christ from beginning right to the end. -- Matthew 27:13, mark 15:44

Notice as well the end part of verse 11 in chapter 19 “he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” Pilate was ignorant. He was a roman soldier. Steeped in paganism and worship of false gods and the Emperor. The chief priests and multitudes that lead Christ to Pilate were even more so guilty then Pilate due to the simple fact the should have known the truth. They had no excuse.

So consider this for a moment.

Pilate was a Roman, a gentile. He was not familiar with the laws and prophecies as were the Jews. He did not have the upbringing concerning the prophecies of the coming Messiah. What Pilate had was heathen, ungodly practises.

Pilate was a man who was often in trouble with the Jews, reported to the Emperor and simply a sinful man under the rule of Rome.

To say that he is in hell, is being completely judgmental. There is enough evidence in scripture to say he may be in heaven as there is that he may be in hell.

Yes he did deliver Christ to be crucified. Yes he could have stopped it. But did he fully understand what he was doing? Obviously not. Even Christ could touch on this in John 19:11,

What was Pilate? -- A Sinner
Who Did Christ die for? -- Sinners
Who gets saved? -- Sinners?
What was Pilate again? -- A sinner.

It’s simple as that. To make claims that Pilate is in heaven or hell is to make claims we know what happened after the events at Calvary. Pilate was continuing to marvel over the matter even when he found out how quickly Christ had died.

Think about it. He had witnessed a man who remained calm through the whole ordeal. Spoke against no one. Did not deny the claims that He was the Son of God

The Lord made Pilate wonder over “what is the truth” His name brought fear to Pilate, Pilate tried hard to release him.

Early church tradition held Pilate and his wife highly.

The apocryphal books even though we can not always rely on them, gives us some light. The book of Nicodemus shows that Pilate was favourable towards the Christians. It does not say he was saved though.

Pilate only lived around 2-4 years after the events took place at Calvary. Did he get saved? We don’t know. We pray that he did. He stood face to face with the Creator, with the Saviour of the world. Pray that he pondered further the words Christ spoke to him. That through all the surprises that the Lord gave Pilate, that he searched further. That he searched for the truth, and found it in the one who saves -- The Lord Jesus Christ.

The thief on the cross got saved
Paul got saved
I got saved
Perhaps Pilate got saved too!

If God could have saved the first three listed there, He could have saved Pilate too!

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