PILATE'S REPORT TO TIBERIAS
Pilate's report is recorded
by the Roman historian, Valleus Paterculus, who was a close friend of the
Emperor. Tiberius promoted him by degrees until he became one of the great men
of Rome and commanded the army for sixteen years. Valleus spent some time in
Judea as well, where he says he met Jesus of Nazareth and was astounded at the
miracles that He performed. He returned to Rome in 31 A.D., and perhaps because
of his testimony, there is evidence that the Roman Senate was discussing the
idea of proclaiming Jesus to be a god.
At any rate, Valleus recorded
Pilate's letter to Tiberius, concerning Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. It
is known as Acta Pilati. It was discovered i the early 1850's in
the Vatican Library in Rome by a German scholar named H. C. Whydaman, who had
spent five years in the Vatican looking through many of the 560,000 volumes that
are there. very few are allowed such access to the Vatican Library, but the
chief guardian of the Vatican at that time, Father Peter Freelinhusen,
befriended him and allowed him full access to the old records.
In 1856 he
visited Rev. W.D. Mahan in Dewitt, Missouri, telling him of his studies in Rome.
Mahan followed up on this visit and secured a copy of Acta Pilati, with a letter
of certification, written by Peter Freelinhusen and dated April 26, 1859. It was
translated from Latin into English by a Mr. Vantberger for a fee of ten
dollars.
After many years of study, W.D. Mahan, went to the Vatican
Library in person, accompanied by Drs. McIntosh and Twyman of the Antiquarian
Lodge of Genoa, Italy. They also visited the great library at the Mosque of St.
Sophia to view the records of the Jewish Sanhedrin in the days of Christ. They
published their work in 1887 under the title, The Acchko
Volume.
The following is the text of Pilate's Report to
Tiberius:
To Noble Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome.
Noble
Sovereign, Greetings: The events of the last few days in my province have
been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred,
as I should not be surprised if, in the course of time, they may change the
destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be
propitious. I am almost ready to say, Cursed be the day that I succeeded
Vallerius Flaceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been
one of continual uneasiness and distress.
On my arrival at Jerusalem I
took possession of the praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared,
to which I invited the tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his
officers. At the appointed hour no guests appeared. This I considered an insult
offered to my dignity, and to the whole government which I represent. A few days
after, the high priest deigned to pay me a visit. His deportment was grave and
deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit
at the table with the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this
was only a sanctimonious seeming, for his very countenance betrayed his
hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that
moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of
the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high priests of
this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious
living.
It seems to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most
difficult to govern. So. turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread
of an insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only
one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested a reinforcement from
the prefect of Syria, who informed me that he had scarcely enough troops
sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate thirst for conquest to
extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of
the final overthrow of our whole government. I lived secluded from the masses,
for I did not know what those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I
endeavored to ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the
people.
Among the various rumors that came to my ears, there was one in
particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said, had appeared
in Galilee, preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of the God that
had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was to stir up the
people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth
spoke rather as friend of the Romans than of the Jews.
One day in passing
by the place of Siloe, where there was a great concourse of people, I observed
in the midst of the group a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly
addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have
suspected, so great was the difference between him and those listening to him.
His Golden-colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial
aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years of age Never have I seen a sweeter
or more serene countenance. What a contrast between him and his hearers, with
their black beards and tawny complexions!
Unwilling to interrupt him by
my presence, I continued my walk, but signified to my secretary to join the
group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the
chief of the conspirators who encamped in Etruria waiting for Cataline. Manlius
had been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the
Hebrew language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering
the praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words of Jesus had
pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything
that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious Jews, so numerous
in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar, he
replied, "Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the
things that are God's."
It was on account of the wisdom of his sayings
that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it was in my power to have
had him arrested, and exiled to Pontus but that would have been contrary to the
justice which has always characterized the Roman government n all its dealings
with men; this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my
protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to
assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by any
praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen (may the gods avert the omen!), should
it ever happen, I say, that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted
by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that Rome shall
owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the
instrument of what the Jews call Providence,and we call destiny.
This
unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews--not the poor,but the rich
and powerful. It is true Jesus was severe on the latter, and this was a
political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the
Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees," he would say to them, "you are a race of
vipers; you resemble painted sepulchres; you appear well unto men, but you have
death within you." At other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and
proud, telling them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of
God. Complaints were daily made at the praetorium against the insolence of
Jesus.
I was informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it
would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called
themselves prophets; and appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my conduct was
approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement after the termination
of the Parthian war.
Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I
resolved upon adopting a measure that promised to restore the tranquillity of
the city without subjecting the praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to
Jesus, requesting and interview with him at the praetorium. He came. You know
that in my veins flow the Spanish mixed with Roman blood--as incapable of fear
as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance, I was walking
in my basilic, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble
pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a guilty culprit, though the
Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself.
When he came up to me,he
stopped, and by a signal he seemed to say to me, "I am here," though he spoke
not a word. For some time I contemplated with admiration and awe this
extraordinary type of man-- a type of man unknown to our numerous painters, who
have give form and figure to all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing
about him that was repelling in its character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous
to approach him.
"Jesus," said I unto him as last--and my tongue
faltered--"Jesus of Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample
freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage. I know
not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know, there is in your
discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers.
The Emperor is informed of it,and I, his humble representative in this country,
am glad of having allowed you that liberty of which you are so worthy. However,
I must not conceal from you that your discourses have raised up against you
powerful and inveterate enemies.
"Nor is this surprising. Socrates had
his enemies, and he fell a victim to their hatred. Yours are doubly
incensed--against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their
conduct; Against me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even
accuse me of being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the
Hebrews of the little civil power, which Rome has left them. My request--I do
not say my order--is, that you be more circumspect and moderate in your
discourses in the future, and more considerate of them, lest you arouse the
pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and
compel me to employ the instruments of law."
The Nazarene calmly replied,
"Prince of the earth, your words proceed not true wisdom. Say to the torrent to
stop in the midst of the mountain-gorge; it will uproot the trees of the valley.
The torrent will answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the creator.
God alone knows whither flow the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you,
before the rose of Sharon blossoms, the blood of the just shall be
spilt."
"Your blood shall not be spilt." said I with deep emotion; "you
are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all the
turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans.
They conspire against Caesar, and covert his bounty into fear, impressing the
unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. Insolent wretches! They
are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin
of the sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them.
My praetorium shall be an asylum, sacred both day and night."
Jesus
carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile: "When the day
shall have come, there will be no asylums for the son of man, neither in the
earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is there," pointing to the
heavens. "That which is written in the books of the prophets must be
accomplished."
"Young man," I answered mildly. "you will oblige me to
convert my request into an order. The safety of the province, which has been
confided to my care, requires it. You must observe more moderation in your
discourses Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness
attend you; farewell."
"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus, "I come not
to bring war into the world, but peace, love, and charity. I was born the same
day on which Augustus gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not
from me. I expect it from others, and will meet it in obedience to the will of
my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence.
It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the foot of the tabernacle of
expiation."
So saying, he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the
curtain of the basilic--to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of
which I could not relieve myself while in his presence.
To Herod, who
then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves, to wreak
their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod consulted his own inclinations, he
would have ordered Jesus immediately to be put to death; but, though proud of
his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his
influence with the Senate, or, like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never
do for a Roman officer to be scared by a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called
on me at the praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling
conversation, asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I replied
that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great
nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no means sacrilegious,
and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to that freedom of speech
which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and, saluting me
with ironical respect, departed.
The great feast of the Jews was
approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation
which always manifests itself at the solemnities of a Passover. The city was
overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene.
My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in
bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman centurion had been
insulted. I wrote to the Prefect of Syria for a hundred foot-soldiers and as
many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a handful of veterans in the
midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no
choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious
rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the praetorium, believing, as
their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition--continued
vociferating: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
Three powerful parties had
combined together at the time against Jesus, the Herodians and the Sadducees,
whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives: they hated
the Nazarene and were impatient to the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for
having entered the holy city with banners that bore image of the Roman emperor;
and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege
did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance also rankled in
their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in
erecting edifices for public use. My proposal was scorned.
The Pharisees
were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore
with bitterness the serve reprimands which the Nazarene for three years had been
continually giving them wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by
themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees.
Besides these three parties, I had to content against the reckless and
profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and to profit by the
disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.
Jesus was dragged before
the High Priest and condemned to death. It was then that the High Priest,
Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to
confirm his condemnation and secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus
was a Galilean, the affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered him to
be sent thither. The wily tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his
deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my
hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. Every moment
increased the number of the malcontents. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds
from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judea appeared to be pouring into the
city.
I had taken a wife from among the Gauls, who pretended to see into
futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet, she said to me: "Beware,
beware,and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I saw him in a vision.
He was walking on the waters; he was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke
to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to him. Behold
the torrent in Mount Kedron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled
with gemonide; the columns of the interium have given way; and the sun is veiled
in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil awaits thee. If thou
wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate;
dread the frowns of Caesar."
By this time the marble stair groaned under
the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to
the hall of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone
what they demanded.
"The death of the Nazarene," was the
reply.
"For what crime?"
"He has blasphemed; he has prophesied the
ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of
the Jews."
"Roman justice," said I, "punishes not such offenses with
death."
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The
vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its
foundations.
There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of
the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to
protect him from the fury of his merciless persecutors. I adopted a measure
which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save his life.
I proposed , as it was their custom to deliver a prisoner on such occasions, to
release Jesus and let him go free, that he might be the scapegoat, as they
called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified.
I then spoke to them of
the inconsistency of their course as being incompatible with their laws, showing
that no criminal judge could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted
one whole day; and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and
the signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be executed
on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on the day of his
execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole proceeding; also
according to their law, a man was stationed a short way off on horseback to cry
the name of the criminal and his crime, and the name of his witnesses, and to
know if any one could testify in his favor and the prisoner on his way to
execution had the right to turn back three times and to plead any new thing in
his favor. I urged all these pleas, hoping they might awe them into subjection;
but they still cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
I then ordered Jesus to
be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I
then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous
multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done
nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted
for.
Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of
the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this
occasion. I might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal
region had assemble at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be
borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the
portals of the praetorium even unto Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks,
and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia,or
in the tumults of the forum.
By degrees the day darkened like a winter's
twilight, such as had been at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was
likewise the Ides of March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province,
was leaning against a column of my basilic, contemplating athwart the dreary
gloom these fiends of Tartarus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All
around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers through the
funeral gate that leads to Gemonica.
An air of desolation and sadness
enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a
display of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my
breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at the moment appertained
rather to the history of the gods than that of men. A loud clamor was heard
proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony
such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of
the temple, and setting over the city covered it with a veil. So dreadful were
the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the
Aeropagite is reported to have exclaimed, 'Either the author of nature is
suffering or the universe is falling apart.'
Whist these appalling scenes
of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt,
which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to
death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead
after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known.
He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.
Near the first hour of the night,
I threw my mantle around me and went down into the city toward the gates of
Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still
agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had
witnessed had stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman
cohort pass by mournfully, the standard bearer having veiled his eagle in token
of grief; and I overheard some the Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words,which
I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those which have
so often smitten the Romans by the will of the gods. Sometimes, groups of men
and women would halt, then, looking back toward Mount Calvary, would remain
motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.
I returned to
the praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which
were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a
suppliant posture, and behind him several Roman in tears. He threw himself at my
feet and wept most bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart
being already overcharged with grief, we, though strangers, wept together. And
in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I
perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme
revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who testified
against him, those who cried, "Crucify him, we have his blood," all slunk off
like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. As I am told that Jesus
taught a resurrection after death, if such should be the fact, I am sure it
commenced in this vast crowd.
"Father," said I to him, after gaining
control of my feelings, "who are you, and what is your request?"
"I am
Joseph of Arimethea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon my knees the
permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth."
"Your prayer is granted," said I
to him; and at the same time I ordered Manlius to take some soldiers with him to
superintend the interment, lest is should be profaned.
A few days after,
the sepulchre was found empty. His disciples proclaimed all over the country
that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had foretold. This created more
excitement even than the crucifixion. As to it truth, I cannot say for certain,
but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for
yourself, and see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.
Joseph buried
Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his resurrection or calculated to
cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after he was buried [i.e. Saturday] one
of the priest came to the praetorium and said they were apprehensive that his
disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it
appear that he had risen from the dead, as he had foretold, and of which they
were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard (Malcus)
to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, place as many around the sepulchre as
were needed; then if anything should happen, they could blame themselves, and
not the Romans.
When the great excitement arose about the sepulchre being
found empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent Malcus, who told he
had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the
sepulchre. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what
had occurred there that morning. I sent for this man, Isham, who related to me,
as near as I can recollect the following circumstances: He said that at about
the beginning of the fourth watch they saw a soft and beautiful light over
the sepulchre. He at first thought that the women had come to embalm the body of
Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they had gotten through the
guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold,the whole
place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their
grave-clothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all
around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard; and the whole
air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a
reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he
could not stand on his feet. He said the earth seemed to swim from under him,
and his senses left him, so that he knew not what did occur. I asked him in what
condition he was when he came to himself. He said he was lying on the ground
with his face down. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the
light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought
of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered
it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have
come from being wakened up and getting up too suddenly, as it sometimes had that
effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty
was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers
sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted.
He said he did not know, but he thought nearly an hour. He said it was hid by
the light of day. I asked him if he went to the sepulchre after he had come to
himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief
came,they all went to their quarter.
I asked him if he had been
questioned by the priests. He said they had. They wanted him to say it was an
earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the
disciples came and stole Jesus; but he saw no disciples; he did not know that
the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of
those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that
Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of
Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the virgin in
Bethlehem; that the same person had been on the earth before with Abraham and
Lot, and at many times and places.
It seems to me that, if the Jewish
theory be true, these conclusions are correct,for they are in accord with this
man's life, as is know and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements
were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could
convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into heath; he
could calm the seas, still the storms, call up fish with a silver coin in its
mouth. Now, I say, if he could do all these things, which he did, and many more,
as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that created this enmity
against him--he was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was he charged with
violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts
are known to thousands, as well by his foes as by his enemies--I am almost ready
to say, as did Manlius at the cross, "Truly, this was the Son of
God."
Now, noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I
can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that
you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear that Antipater has said
many hard things of me in this matter. With the promise of faithfulness and good
wishes to my noble Sovereign,
I am your most obedient servant,
Pontius
Pilate
This report was taken from The Laws of the Second Coming by
Dr. Stephen E. Jones. Port Austin Bible Center P.O. Box 444 Port Austin,
Michigan 48467 www.biblelaw.com