Pontius Pilate

Pilate, hoping to buy time and mend his strained relationship with Herod, sent Jesus to appear before him in Galilee amidst their animosity. 185:3.8

Pontius Pilate was greatly disliked by the Jews for using temple funds to build an aqueduct, sparking numerous riots and bloodshed. 185:1.5

The court reconvened at 5:30, presenting charges to Pilate claiming blasphemy held no weight, with Jesus guarded by a Roman soldier and temple guards as Annas emphasized the futility to his associates, while Judas remained silent. 184:5.1

Jews’ lack of respect for Pilate's authority led to his disfavor among them, as seen in his hesitant response to their demands and his ultimate surrender to their protests. 185:1.3-4 185:2.1-5

In his last appeal to the mob, Pilate sought pity for Jesus, but the unfeeling hearts of the crowd remained determined to crucify him. 185:6

In the Urantia Book

Personal characteristics

• Pilate was confused, frightened, and stirred by the sight of Jesus before his accusers, wrestling with fear, superstition, and the relentless demands of the crowd. 185:2.16 185:5.13 (185:6.2,7)
• Pilate's fear and hatred of the Jews led him to make fatal mistakes and gave them power over him when they threatened uprisings. 185:1.2 186:4.1
• Pontius Pilate, a moral coward who made threats he feared to execute, was a reasonably good governor but failed to understand the depth of the Jewish faith and ultimately succumbed to their influence. (185:1.1,3) 185:7.2-3
• Pontius Pilate's skepticism led to his failure to comprehend the strong religious convictions of the Jews, resulting in his disfavor with them. 185:1.3
• A great error was made by Rome in appointing the unjust and fear-ridden judge Pontius Pilate to govern Palestine, allowing bloodthirsty religious fanatics to bring about the death of an innocent man. 185:1.9 185:5.9

Political position

• Pontius Pilate began ruling Judea in A.D. 26, the very year of Jesus' baptism at almost thirty-one and one-half years old. 136:2.8
• The consent required to put Jesus to death had to be secured from the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, by the Sanhedrin court. 184:3.13 (185:2.3,5) 185:7.4
• Pontius Pilate, deposed after needless slaughter of Samaritans, sacrificed Jesus out of fear and safeguarded his personal position, leading to his downfall. 185:1.6
• The Jews' threats of treason against Pilate pushed him to condemn Jesus to death. 185:1.8 185:7.5
• Tiberius allowed Pontius Pilate to remain as procurator of Judea for ten years because he was a reasonably good governor but a moral coward who failed to understand the Jews' deep religious convictions. 185:1.1
• Pontius Pilate, afraid of a riot during Passover in Jerusalem after being reprimanded by Caesar, reluctantly washed his hands of Jesus' blood, to the mob's approval. 185:8.2
• Pontius Pilate, Roman procurator of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea under the legatus of Syria, oversaw Jesus' trial on that fateful Friday morning in A.D. 30. 185:0.1

Jesus and Pilate

• Pontius Pilate allowed Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus, posted 10 guards at the sealed tomb. 183:2.3 185:2.6 188:2.2-3
• The unfair decision of Pontius Pilate not to declare Jesus innocent ultimately led to the crucifixion of an innocent man. 185:1.9 185:3.8 (185:5.1,7)
• During the trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus was the one truly on trial. 186:2.6
• Pontius Pilate was impressed by Jesus' masterly bearing during the unfair proceedings and decided to examine him privately. 185:2.15-16
• Unjust and vacillating Pontius Pilate, ignorant of the gospel, held power over Jesus but was not so guilty in his lack of knowledge. 185:7.2
• Then said Pilate, half in ridicule and half in sincerity, “Truth, what is truth—who knows?” 185:3.5
• Pilate was upset by a letter from his wife, Claudia Procula, urging him not to have anything to do with Jesus. 183:2.3 185:1.7 185:5.7-8
• Behold the man, for in his symmetry and balance lies the possibility for every mortal to develop a strong and unified personality like Jesus of Nazareth. 100:7.1 185:6.3 186:2.11
• Out of fear and pressure, Pontius Pilate washed his hands before the multitude, denying responsibility for Jesus' crucifixion. 185:8.2 186:4.1
• Pontius Pilate refused to accept money for Jesus' body, allowing Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to bury him properly. 188:0.3
• Pilate wrote “King of the Jews” over Jesus' cross despite protests from Jewish authorities and insisted, “What I have written, I have written.” 187:1.2-3 187:2.5

Tragic end

• Pontius Pilate's slaughter of Galileans in the temple was just one instance of his controversial actions during his time in power. 166:4.4 185:1.5
• Pontius Pilate tragically surrendered to the pressure of the mob and condemned the innocent Son of God to die. 185:8
• Pontius Pilate retired to Lausanne and committed suicide after facing consequences for his role in the crucifixion of Jesus and the needless slaughter of Samaritans. 185:1.6

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Galileans are under Herod 185:3.8 — Lk 23:6.
• Honored Herod's jurisdiction 185:3.8 — Lk 23:12.
• Second meeting of court 184:5.1 — Mt 27:1; Mk 15:1a.
• Pilate asks what accusations 185:2.1 — Jn 18:29-30.
• Pilate washed hands 186:4.1 — Mt 27:24.
• Pilate: crucify him immediately 186:4.1 — Mt 27:26c; Mk 15:15c; Jn 19:16.
• Jesus is mocked but not hit 186:4.1 — Mt 27:31ab; Mk 15:20ab.
• Jesus does not reply 185:7.2 — Jn 19:9c.
• Last dialog with Jesus 185:7.2 — Jn 19:10-11.
• What of Jesus? Crucify him! 185:5.9 — Mt 27:22; Mk 15:12-13; Lk 23:20-21.
• Chronology of events 136:2.8 — Lk 3:1.
• Pilate's last effort 185:7.5 — Jn 19:12-15.
• Release of Barabbas 185:8.2 — Mt 27:26a; Mk 15:15a; Lk 23:24-25a.
• Pilate washes hands 185:8.2 — Mt 27:24-25.
• “I find no guilt in him” 185:8.2 — Lk 23:4,22; Jn 18:38; Jn 19:4,6.
• Judas knew places Jesus went 183:2.3 — Jn 18:2.
• Sanhedrin's concern 188:2.2 — Mt 27:62-64.
• What is truth? 185:3.5 — Jn 18:38a.
• Pilate's message from his wife 185:5.7 — Mt 27:19a.
• Behold the man! 100:7.1 — Jn 19:5.
• Behold the man 185:6.3 — Jn 19:4-5,6b.
• Friends retrieve body 188:0.3 — Mt 27:57-58; Mk 15:43-45; Lk 23:50-53a; Jn 19:38,40a.
• The sign: KING OF JEWS 187:1.2 — Mt 27:37; Mk 15:26; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:19-20.
• Sun shines on everyone 166:4.4 — Mt 5:45b.
• Innocent victims of time 166:4.4 — Lk 13:1-5.

Where it appears

Pontius Pilate is linked in 31 paragraphs of the text.

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