The dwelling of the Righteous is to be found there, He said, and pointed with the finger to the heaven. How could Christ be accused of a crime which He never committed? So, by virtue of which Roman law did he order the innocent prisoner to be scourged and crucied? Semidas father threw himself at the feet of the unknown man I have just described, who went nearer to the bed of the dead and showed Him his daughter, exclaiming: O my Lord, my daughter is in the arms of death, but if it is your will, she will arise. Several years after he became the Roman Governor of Judea a number of the high priests approached him with a young preacher named Jesus Christ. I fell on the. Herein the judges of our days might. The statement of the Roman pagan destroys the unfounded allegation of all unbelievers of to-day. The hall was in deep silence when he turned to the audience. He walks bare-footed and bare-headed. In such circumstance I, an insignificant, unfortunate man, would have become an instrument of what the Christians call Providence and of that by which this fate and destiny might come down upon us. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus records these words about Pilate, Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. But is it possible that truth and right are dependent upon the consent of the people? He, perhaps, had not wanted to expose himself before Christs disciples, and, perhaps, before his wife, who highly sympathised with Christ, and whose dream was not only an actual prophetic prediction of what would happen to those who took part in the trial, but also to those in our days, who act as the Hebrews who feigned to defend and to protect the Roman rulers, but in reality were only great traitors. My maid-servants caught me by the hand and led me to the window which opened on to the court of the tribunal. That would be wonderful if true. Not only will his name be remembered, but it will be repeated, day after day, on the lips of millions of Christians, in a thousand different languages Under Pontius Pilate.., How to Pray Without Ceasing According to Father Henri Nouwen, The Eucharist is the Total Self-Emptying of God, C.S. We will start by discovering what history tells us about this leader. Even if we are ignored we will have been a voice for God. Thereafter, the president permitted the counsel for the defendant, advocate Reichswev, to speak. After Johns death at the hands of Herod Antipas, he left a large following who continued to exist apart from the Yeshuines. The Gospel tells us that many people were astonished by Jesus teaching and expressed their amazement by the following words: how does He know it without having learnt it?. You pay the tithe with mint and cinnamon, but you are not interested in abiding by the laws, in faithful righteousness and mercy. The meaning of these words is deep and true. Another tradition states that Pontius Pilate was born in Germany and was a bastard son of Tyrus, king of Mayence. My power is too weak to oppose these rebellious and wretched people, On the other hand I would be deeply concerned should I become forced to spill the blood of this wise man. It also declares she was a proselyte to Judaism, and a Roman citizen. At this time one of my maid-servants, a Jewess by birth, came to my room; pale, desperate and with frightened eyes she cried: These dead foretold the wrath of God. He referred to Pilate, who had said, I. nd no fault in this just man, and as a sign of his belief in Jesus innocence had washed his hands in the face of His accusers. Dr Blandeisler unfolded whole archives of documents containing about 1000 typewritten pages. My only consolation consists in reading them again and again. In the apocryphal Gospel of ikdmos she is called Procla, or Procula. It seems like a bad omen to both of them, that Pilates name is so connected with this one judgment, remembered through the ages (in King of Sorrows). For the defence was the advocate Reicliswev, prosecutor Dr. Blandeisler. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. The door opened and I could see Semida, lying on a bed adorned with candlesticks and perfumes. Falvius Josephus. His face shone in majesty like the sun. The New Testament gospel of Luke records that Pilate had heard about Jesus and His miracles before He was brought before Pilate. From the High Priests : Ruan, Jodus, and Bukasalis. 1995. vol. A guard went away to accompany the horsemen, and the centurion, displaying the appearance of a tottering power, took care to maintain order. 8. p. 426. After so much uproar the town became suddenly calm, as if in thought, and a deadly silence pervaded it, as if death had covered it with its dark wings. But although he was proud to have been entrusted with the government of his country, he nevertheless feared the Senate and would not decide on such an action, which might have destroyed his influence before the Senate. Rumours went that many graves opened and many people saw righteous men, who long before had passed away, come to life again: prophets and priests from the time of Zachariah who was killed in the temple. I replied that in my opinion Jesus was a great philosopher, such as great nations often produce. I replied: The Roman law does not punish such offences with death. Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3. Jesus of Nazareth spoke as any Roman would have spoken, and not as a Jew. This was an affront to the honour of my person. but I could not cry for him. While he was sitting on thejudges bench, his wifesent word to him, Havenothing to do with thatrighteous man, for todayIve suffered terribly in adream because of Him!Matthew 27:19. Just think Claudia Procula was the first one we know of who was unequally yoked. Our deadly silence was disturbed by a thunderstroke resounding through the corridors of the palace. These catastrophes serve as a terrible warning for all people, but especially for religious leaders and judges. So the following information may not be true. The plot of this drama is the conflict between ancient Rome and the Jews, but in Chris Bolinger explains, She would have known the intimate details because he [Pilate] told her after the dreadful day where he sent an innocent man to his death. The shouting began again, even louder, and their voices were like the howling of wild, hungry animals. But Jesus did not answer. [12] The Eastern Orthodox church believes that Pilate and his wife eventually became Christians. He said that he could prove that the sentence was an unjust and unlawful one, and that Jesus fell a victim to innumerable mistakes of the justice of that time. Hunter's essays, articles, and poems have been featured at Busted Halo, St. Austin Review, Crisis Magazine, and Voyage Comics. Owing to this regulation they were full of anger. Without his protector in power, Pilate made a major error and suppressed a small uprising in Samaria. She tells him that she was on a ship and that she heard a cry; the skies became dark and the Aegean rough. I saw Him in my dream last night. To this His disciples testified, and con, rmed their testimony with their own blood, and carried the words of the Lord Jesus before the thrones of the great and the judges. McClintock and Strong. [1] Of course, we want to know what she dreamed to provoke her strong response. The world will never forget the name Pontius Pilate, rather, the name will live on in infamy. I could stand this ;houting no longer, so beckoned one of my servants and sent him to my husband to ask him to come to me for a few moments. The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. lled His prophecy and victoriously overcame death; rst He showed Himself to His disciples and friends, and then to the people. Luke 23:8(NASB), Pilate was apparently not threatened by Jesus since he had not taken action earlier. 10, says of the causes of Pilates death. In vain had they formerly felt secure from suffering, and in vain they protected themselves with the eternal and insurmountable illusion. After these words, like a bright cloud, He went away behind the Praetorian precincts. The first. The Sadducees were prompted by two reasons: they hated Jesus and wanted to free themselves from the Roman pressure. The number of the Roman guards is extremely small and their protecting force very weak for these demoniac people. Salome and Semida looked at me with fear, for they saw in me always the wife of the persecutor and hunter of their Lord. In Mark, he depicts Jesus as innocent of plotting against the Roman Empire and is reluctant to execute him. When I entered he raised his Head and exclaimed in desperation: O Claudia, why did I not follow your advice? A certain imposter gathered many Samaritans on the mount Garizzin, with the intention of showing them some vessels which Moses himself had hidden. O Pilate, great mishap is awaiting you, unless you listen to your wife. If you wish to save yourself and all who are dear to you, than meditate in your prayers upon Golgotha and look with, rm faith to Him who suffered for you and all others that they might be saved. Thus amidst this town about to revolt, I found myself in a position where I had only a handful of soldiers at my disposal, same of them of the old guard, and had no power to suppress the rebellion, but was forced to bring Him forth. We demand the death of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, one of the priests answered in the name of all the people. I rose and m feet would hardly drag me along. and heroes. But Isaiah meant that He would not possess rich adornments or worldly wealth. Without further delay he was to be sentenced to death as many others before Him. ce he offered for all of us that we might be saved! According to what history shows us, the ruling religion has not always had pure truth as a foundation, and in all times it was subject to errors. At the appointed hour nobody appeared. YouTube | But you will protect Him, isnt that so? And as to His teachings, they have in no case been dangerous, and represent no heresy whatsoever; so Rome was inclined to concede Him every freedom and, by His deeds. The Gospel according to St. Matthew contains a small detail not in the other Passion accounts. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. oor. Woe to the holy abode!. By addressing him as she did, as he was on the judgment seat, Pilate sought to avoid personal responsibility for the death of Jesus. 28:1-6). Oh, terrible destiny, how do you deride the fate of mortals! Governor of Judea.. Before this Holy Day Pontius told me that the Nazarenes future was extremely insecure. This document was translated from Greek into other European languages, and now-herewith- into the English language :-. It is only natural and absolutely advisable that the judges of to- day should read the Holy Books, i.e., the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The apocryphal but influential Gospel of Nicodemus mentions her dream and Pilates reaction to it: he is more concerned in that account than St. Matthews Gospel indicates. . Dear and beloved reader, have you ever thought that you might be one of those on the path leading to Christ-the path of Golgotha? I exclaimed, highly indignant. From the above quoted report of Pilate to the Emperor Tiberius, it appears that Pilate arrived in Jerusalem in his capacity of governor not long before Jesus commenced His mission of activity, and that Jesus and his prophecies exerted great influence upon him. He judged mankind, who trembled before Him, and among those unhappy ones who had been thrown into the. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. After 1900 years the leader of the Jewish people recognised the dreadfulness of a juridical mistake and the crime which was perpetrated at the same place where now some of their descendants declared in the most solemn way, by four votes to one, that the Lord Jesus Christ was innocent. We may prot greatly by a study of the proceedings, trial and death-sentence of Jesus Christ, in which the Roman courts themselves committed the greatest wrong. In the seventeenth year of the government of the invincible monarch, the Caesar and Roman Emperor Tiberius, 201 years after the Olympiads; in the beginning of the five thousandth year after the creation, in the 4147th year according to the Hebrew calendar, and 4037th year, according to the English reckoning, and 784 years since the foundation of Rome, 580 years since the liberation from Egyptian slavery: At the time of the great men of the Roman nation : Lucius, Suetonius, and Marcellinus, and the administrator Hilaretes Palister, at the time of the Governor-General over Judea, Comus Flavius, and at the time of the Governor of Jerusalem, the mighty and great prince Pontius Pilatus, and at the time of the procurator over Galilee, Herodes Anitpater, and at the time of the great Archpriests Ananias and Caiaphas, Aliasus and Mailus, the elder of the Temple Raban, and Amabelus, at the times of great judges in the town town of Jesruslem: Simbinakasas, Pompilius, Rufus, and the municipal commander Joctenus : I, Pontius Pilatus, procurator of the Roman Emperor, in the hall of the great princes, do pronounce and confirm the sentence of death on the cross to be inflicted on the man called by the people Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, a rebel against Moses Laws and against His Majesty the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Pilate was afraid that his authority and the Roman power, which he so stronglv defended, might, be compromised by this menace. Instantaneously my palace took the appearance of a besieged town. Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. Some influential Christians demurred, however. A conspiracy was brewing over His head, and it might be that on this evening He would be delivered into the hands of the High Priest. The prosecutor continued grimly to accuse the martyr, basing his arguments on the documents he had brought with him. It was Jesus of Nazareth. Each play was organized and performed by a different guild; they were suppressed during Elizabeth Is reign in 1569, but have been revived in modern productions. The York Mystery Plays were performed for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi to tell the story of Salvation History from Creation to the Last Judgment. After these words Pontius rose and went into another room, deep in thoughts. The door opened and I could see Semida, lying on a bed adorned with candlesticks and perfumes. I saw Him in my dream last night. She says that they were some of the prophets and priests. Pontius Pilate would not free Christ, because he was afraid of the Jews, After her husbands death, Claudia Procula is said to have embraced Christianity. He proved to be a great-grandson of the chief of Intelligence Department who hid in Etruia in expectation of Catalina. Perhaps this is why the Gospel describes the dream of Pilates wife as being so troubling, for in it she witnesses in a dramatic way the full effect of Pilates role in the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. Antiquities of the Jews 18.4.2. Therefore, she warned him to have nothing to do with Jesus. Annas and Caiphas persuade him that his wifes dream and distress are signs of Jesuss sorcery and Pilate proceeds with the trial. whose eyes amed with anger. to deal with the Nazarene. This new faith grew like the plant out of a mustard seed, as the true root of a fruit-bearing tree which should supersede all other roots (that is to say the false religions and the Roman grandeur). He also had some difficulties due to a complaint sent to him by Mary Magdalene with respect to his unjust measures. I suffered much in a dream today because of him. (Matthew 27:19). WebThe dead rabbi hunts Claudias dreams. It was the highest agitation which I have ever experienced, for every feature in His face presented an unequalled beauty, but in this moment He inspired a certain secret fear by the glance of His eyes which, it seemed, might turn us into dust. A deeper understanding of people in the Bible. The dream must have been a bad dream for the Greek, pascho polys, states that she suffered great pain during the dream. ghts with German and other peoples. I have a secretary named Manlius. But as they had threatened to report Pilate to the Emperor, he delivered Jesus to them. The rst years of my family life went by calmly and peacefully, Heaven blessed me with a son, and he was dearer to me than the light of day. The English mystery novelist, Dorothy L. Sayers, wrote "The Man Born to Be King", a series of radio plays for the BBC during World War II. I did not dare answer him. WebJosephus; ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, Book XVIII (4:1) BUT the nation of the Samaritans did not escape without tumults. Her letter mentioned also the resurrection of the saints on the occasion of Christs death on the cross. . Should become true! When I came back to the law court I found Manius there, and he reported to me the speech he had heard Jesus deliver at Siloah. So, by virtue of which Roman law did he order the innocent prisoner to be scourged and cruci. In a desperate mood Pilate bowed his head. rm the sentence issued so long ago, as this was their duty and in accordance with the sound principles of justice. Tradition adds that Pilate died in Vienne, France on the Rhone or on Mount Pilatus, Switzerland. But why do they hate Him so strongly? He said to the Pharisees and scribes: You are malicious by birth; you are like unto white sepulchres. I asked. This took courage on her part to claim Him innocent in the face of so much hostility and anger. The statement related above exactly corroborates with the Holy Scriptures reports. Now, of all accusations brought against Jesus, not a single one could have been proved and documented, for Pilate himself, by using the words: He is innocent, and con, rming this statement by the washing of his hands, substantiated Jesus innocence. He answered: I am Joseph of Arimatha; I have come to ask your permission for the burial of Jesus of Nazareth. I replied: Your petition shall be granted. Whereupon I ordered Manlius to take soldiers with him and see that the burial was not interfered with. The contents of the report of Pilates wife deserve greatest attention, because, as his wife, she was in constant contact with Pilate, the chief judge of Jesus. The indomitable desire to conquer, that is to say, to enlarge the empire more than our means for protection permits, inspires fear that it may become the cause of the destruction of our beneficent government. Salome stood by her side, benumbed and almost without any feeling. Ararat? However, truth will break through always and triumph. In this same night which followed that unexpected catastrophe I started to write down this report, and in the morning the sound of bugles, paying the air of Diana, coming from the direction of Calvary (Golgotha) reached my ear. His glance is majestic and inspires a feeling of reverence, love, and fear in all those who look upon Him. Oh, beyond any doubt, He suffered, but He suffered gladly, and His soul seemed to me to be carried to invisible heights as a consuming pure, The hall in -the courts was crowded, and looked like a foaming stream whose waters increased by an inf, ux, beginning at the mount Zion, where the Temple stood, and. When I heard these words I seemed to lose my reason. But we cannot be sure it is true since scripture speaks truth but we cannot be confident about other sources of antiquity. In Matthew, he washes his hands to show he will not be responsible for Jesus death. The Samaritans, co-nationals of the men killed, complained about .him to the governor of SyriaVitellius, a brother of the Emperor(as the population of Judea was under the jurisdiction of the former as a higher authority). I felt that on this unhappy day a supernatural event would occur. Persecution does not come from me; I expect it from others. To become better acquainted with this case we give the following short report on Revision of the Juridical Process of Christ.. His forehead is high and expresses innocence and calm. Pontius at once left the court hall and came to me. I remember certain hymns, works of Solomon, praising the God of Jacob, this only God, who is eternal and impenetrable. He was surrounded with divine majesty. In the 3rd century, Origen of Alexandria (a Greek scholar and early Christian Theologian) suggested in his Homilies on Matthew that the wife of Pilate had become a Christian, or at least that God sent her the dream mentioned by Matthew so that she would convert. Thus ended this fateful day. Lonely, I remained behind, thinking that that which had happened was controlled more by divine than human forces. And when he washed his hands after the meal, it seemed to me as if he washed them not in clear water, but in warm blood, the traces of which could not effaced. According to some traditions, the Roman emperor Caligula ordered Pontius Pilate to death by execution or suicide. What a spectacle, Fulvia ! Three parties were united against Jesus: Herods followers, the Sadducees and Pharisees. The plays, broadcast monthly, told the story of Jesus from His Nativity to His Resurrection. When I heard these words I shiver-ed. For the faithful testimony to His teaching some shermen from Tiberias were arrested. Further, I saw the creek of the Hedron Hill running by, filled with blood. I shall pay attention to your tender request and try to remember the links of the long chain of my 1ifes scattered memories. I fell on the oor. Something to consider: Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Claudia seeks out the Nazarenes, followers of the Risen Christ, in Rome, and hears them proclaim the Creed during their worship. I heard another soldier grumbling to strangers and overheard my name, but I could not understand. IMAGINE: Having a very important message for your husband and he just wont listen. This is the complete context of Jesus Christs death sentence, which was found by chance in the town of Amafli, in Italy, in 1509. Search, Learn more about the Orthodox Church in America. In the last play, The King Comes To His Own, Claudia hears that Jesus has risen from the dead. Later, Pilate in his own words stated that Jesus was crucified in his official record, Acts of Pilate, which was sent to Rome and archived there for others to read. Looking towards the Caesarian gate. nger of death had left its traces round her eyes and her concealed lips. For the faithful testimony to His teaching some. 8. 27:65-66). It became acceptable to cast Pilate as a villain and a range of myths developed describing his grisly end. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Of what do you accuse Him? Mishap followed us continuously, for in all places were Christians. These catastrophes serve as a terrible warning for all people, but especially for religious leaders and judges. He is a saint. In the Creed, the It seems, in Galilee there had appeared a young man who preaches to people if high and low standing another law in Gods name, praising Him. Gerizim. Moreover, He had preached such a religion as would lead to salvation, but which the human egoism of His time refused to accept. Accordingly I order that Jesus Christ, together with two other brigands from the region of Imborel, now called Andronymos, shall be taken to be crucified before the people on the place chosen for criminals, and called Calvary (place of blood). His golden shining hair and beard gave Him a heavenly appearance. But we see from the existing document that this justice did not decide the case on its merits. Copyright 19962023. and slapped his face. This is not to be wondered at; Docrates had his adversaries, and fell a victim to their fury. It is only natural and absolutely advisable that the judges of to- day should read the Holy Books, i.e., the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Claudia Procula What does the Bible say about Pontius Pilates wife? They said that we profaned their holy land which God had promised them as their own. It's some time in the ist century. Nowhere was a single trace of calmness to be seen save in the face of one man onlythat of the victim. Copyright Sabbath Sermons and [sabbathsermons.com], 2013. His peacefulness struck me with terror, for in my ears still sounded the words I had heard in my dream: Give me back My blood which I have spilt for you. In deep apprehension of what might unexpectedly happen, I took my son by the hand, put a thin coat on him, and ran to my husband. His hands are externally beautiful. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, The death of the Nazarene! was the answer. Heavy dark and threatening clouds in various shapes scudded over the sky, and lightning came from the colliding clouds, followed by the unreal echo of deep thunder. He nished his speech, which lasted for four hours, by admonishing the judges to conrm the sentence issued so long ago, as this was their duty and in accordance with the sound principles of justice. Pontius Pilate refers to Christ in official records, Pontius Pilate - refers to Christ in official records. And that these things did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. Because He shows up their morals and hypocrisy. Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week . I am very much upset and alarmed because of the grudging Hebrews. By such roads as are not easily described, we journeyed with our personnel, engaged as servants. WebIt is commonly believed she became a Christian after Jesus death, as mentioned. There was a great difference between Him and His audience. From this day on, all went ill for my husband. Every moment the number of the rebels increased. She appears to have one small walk onto the worlds stage and that is to announce Jesus is For some time I remained rooted to the spot, and with veneration and fear I glanced at the figure of this supernatural man, whose form was unknown to the majority of our artists who have worked out the form and figure of so many gods. During my life I have never read in books or in the Philosophers anything which could be compared to the preaching of Jesus. We may, therefore, certainty, infer that the twenty-four old men seen by St, John in his visions described in Revelation 4, 4-5, 8-9, are some of those who came to life when our Lord Jesus Christ arose. This certainly suggests that Pilate was close to the Roman court. Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. She is celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church on Oct. 27, and the Ethiopian . While Jesus is hanging on the cross, at about the ninth hour, Sayers includes a scene in which Pilate asks Claudia to describe the dream that troubled her so.
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