PONTIUS PILATE

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Literature X

November 16, 2016

 My book report is entitled Pontius Pilate: A Biographical Novel by Paul L. Maier.
The book tells about the coming of Pontius Pilate as a prefect in Judea and his trial of
Christ. The main characters are Pilate, a prefect of Judea, Procula, his wife, Sejanus, an
ambitious soldier and a friend of Tiberius, Tiberius, the Roman emperor at Pilate’s time,
Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest who organized the plot to kill Jesus, Herod Antipas, the
man who killed John the Baptist, Malchus, a servant of Caiaphas, and Joseph of
Arimathea, the man who donated a tomb for Christ.

Summary:
In 26 AD, Emperor Tiberius ordered Pilate to be a prefect of Roman provinces
Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Sejanus talked to Pilate about it and what is his duty.
Pilate always had in mind that Jews are hard to govern since he’s a Roman and Jews are
monotheistic. Pilate also heard about rumors about a coming king called Messiah.
Pilate had a fiancé named Procula, they were engaged under political reasons.
Procula always wanted to get married with Pilate. One time, Pilate told her about their
marriage and that he is to become a prefect to Judea. Procula was delighted with these
news. They were married and exchanged vows. “Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia,” Procula’s
promise meaning wherever Gaius is, Gaia is present. (Gaius and Gaia are common
Roman names like Juan and Maria for Filipinos.)
Before they went to Judea, Tiberius invited them to his grotto to interview Pilate.
They had talks about different things like their ancestors and military things. Pilate was
also introduced to some popular guests there. The venue was in an island and it was in a
cave but filled with beautiful ornaments and fountains. While the people are enjoying
the banquet, an earthquake came and the people panicked and some of the stones from
the cave plummeted, Pilate was injured from one. When all the people were out, some
of the politicians noticed that the guards also came out that time and the emperor was
still inside, so they came to rescue Tiberius who was found uninjured because of
Sejanus’ protection. Thrasyllus, an astrologer, requested to Pilate to ask the astrologers
in Judea about a bright star some years ago because when an emperor dies, astrologers
see a celestial phenomenon and so Thrasyllus wants to know about that star.
Pilate departed from Rome with his wife and rode on a ship called Trident of
Neptune. They sailed with other ships. While on the ship, Pilate practiced his Greek
because he knows that the Jews speak Greek and not Latin. After few weeks, they
arrived to Alexandria where they were welcomed by the hospitable prefect there. Also,
Pilate saw how Jews and Romans get along well there, how Jews cooperate well under
Roman administration. He also saw the beauty of Alexandria at night. Alexandria was
illuminated and have many beautiful places like the library which have different scrolls
from all over the world.
After few days of voyage, they came to Judea where the former prefect Gratus
didn’t greeted them. Gratus’ wife explained that Gratus was feeling sick these past days
and maybe that’s the reason. Before Gratus left to return to Rome, he held a party to
introduce to Pilate the members of Sanhedrin starting with the high priest Caiaphas all
the way down to the youngest. Then Gratus departed with his wife to return to Rome
which he haven’t seen for eleven years.
Pilate was then introduced to the place where they will live while they were there,
the Herodian palace. Pilate’s first weeks passed easily as the problems he have to deal
with is adjustment and the only concern Pilate have is that there’s few Romans there.
Pilate also faced the problem about the idols (the emperor’s face, image) and the Jews
want him to take them away because it collides with their religion. Pilate also spent his
first months governing in Caesarea than Judea. Also, Pilate gave solutions to the Anti-
Roman Jews problem.
During his seventh year, he didn’t know a storm was coming. That time Jesus
was arguing with the religious groups and there are many reports about him like how he
flipped a table in front of a temple. Because of his many followers, the Sanhedrin feared
that the people will turn to Jesus than their religion, so the high priest had a plan. Also
involved in this plan was Judas Iscariot. Judas even promised that for the soldiers to
know who Jesus is, he will give Jesus a kiss of salutation.
While on the garden, Jesus was arrested by soldiers with swords and torches, as if
he were a bandit. Malchus wanted to impress his master so he was the first one to grab
Jesus. In return, Peter cut off his right ear but Jesus put it back again which Malchus
marvelled. And Jesus was bound and brought to Sanhedrin, his disciples ran and was
gone in the olive trees. On the Sanhedrin, Jesus was questioned by Caiaphas about him
being the Son of God. Jesus gave incomplete answers and mostly didn’t answered at all.
The Sanhedrists voted on whether Jesus should be sentenced to death or not and there
was only two votes of abstinence and sixty-six votes of agreement. He was sent to Pilate
because only the prefect have the right to put a false prophet to death. Six o’ clock in the
morning Jesus was brought to Pilate. Pilate looked into his eyes and found no fear or
wroth, just disappointment and tiredness. When he asked Jesus questions, the crowd
cheered and cheered for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate asked also about his kingship and
Jesus replied that his kingship was not of this world in which Pilate found out that it was
his defense. Pilate the announced Jesus to be innocent but the crowd isn’t happy with
that, they want him dead. Pilate didn’t want to kill an innocent man so he kept
defending him. Meanwhile, his wife Procula had a dream where Pilate was beaten by
the crowd so he sent him a note that says to guard himself with soldiers. Pilate couldn’t
think of other ways to free Jesus, so he sent him to Antipas, also a Galilean.
Antipas killed the Baptizer before and now he didn’t want to kill another prophet.
He said to Jesus that if he will perform any miracle, he would free him but Jesus didn’t
responsed. Antipas asked again until he lost his patience that he let his soldiers mock
him by putting an old garment of Antipas and worshipping him, slapping and spitting
on him. After the mockery, Antipas sent Jesus back to Pilate again.
Pilate was surprised about the outcome. After some questions, Pilate also lost his
patience and let the soldiers scourge Jesus. They put him a crown of thorn, a purple
cloth, and a reed for scepter then worshipped him, mocked him. After the scourging,
Pilate showed Jesus to the crowd thinking the scourging might be enough for them but
no, the crowd shouted and cheered for Jesus’ execution, mostly the priests. Thinking of
other ways, Pilate thought that since it was a Passover, the crowd can choose a prisoner
to be freed. Jesus Bar-Abbas or Jesus of Nazareth, Pilate asked and the crowd said in
chorus Bar-Abbas name. Pilate was surprised that they chose a murderer over a false
prophet. Then a man told him that if he will not do what the Sanhedrin and people
want, he might be taken away from his throne and the news will get to Tiberius. Fearing
that, Pilate washed his hands and told the soldiers to do what the crowd wants. They
gave Jesus the cross where he will be crucified and marched to the Skull Place. On the
way, Jesus fell to the ground and a man named Simon from Cyrene was called to help
him carry the cross. Jesus was now nailed to the cross along with two robbers.
Pilate rested after the cases are finished and swam in his pool. He was shocked
by the sudden darkening of sky which was followed by an earthquake. The earthquake
also ripped the tent, exposing the Holy of Holies. Pilate ordered the soldiers to break
the men’s legs so they would die easily on the cross from suffocation, Pilate ordered this
because Sabbath starts at sunset. He also got news that Jesus died earlier than the two
robbers which Pilate wondered. Pilate also ordered that the tomb given by Joseph of
Arimathea was sealed by a huge stone and be guarded that none of his disciples can steal
his body and announce that he has risen because he said that after three days, he will be
resurrected.
After three days, the place was filled with rumors about Jesus’ resurrection and
some people claim that they’ve seen him. Because of this event, Pilate thought about
some ways of how Jesus would live again. He thought that Jesus didn’t really died
because the soldiers didn’t broke his legs but one of the soldiers said that event hough
he didn’e broke Jesus’ legs, he thrusted a spear deep in his side, affecting the lungs and
the heart. Pilate then met Malchus who told him how Jesus healed his right ear and
what really happened at the resurrection that an angel came down and rolled the stone
away, announcing Jesus was alive. Pilate marveled in these things and wondered if
Jesus was really the son of God. He also had discussing with Procula that what if Jesus
was really sent to die.
After few days, the disciples were preaching about Christ and had some large
number of followers. The movement was led by Peter. Since it is a religious thing,
Pilate kept his hands from it because he only does political cases. In Jesus’ case, he put
that Jesus was calling himself a king while Tiberius is still on the throne. And everytime
Pilate remember Jesus’ case, which he can’t forget, he was amazed. After some years,
Tiberius died and his adopted son Caligula preceded his throne.

Conclusion:
I recommend this book to everyone because it’s really a good book, even though it’s
long, and it was very detailed historically. Also it’s a good book because you get to know
Pilate more, why he did that, why he washed his hands, and how he lives. And that’s my
conclusion.