* Some count him the sixth procurator, reckoning as the first Sabinus who took charge during the absence of Archelaus (Jos. Ant. xvu. ix. 8, x. 1); but Sabinus, as procurator in Syria under Varus, merely acted to secure Cwsar’s interests after the death of Herod, and while the cause of Archelaus was yet in doubt.
t Except the towns of Gaza, Gadara, and Hippos (Schirer, HJP t. it. 89).
t Jos. also calls the governor irapyer (Ant. χιχ. ix. 2, ete.), προστυασόμενος (Ant. xx. vii. 1), iryesduris (Ant. xvi. iv. 2), as well a8 ἡγεωών (Ant. xxvut. ili. 1).
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people. It aimed at as large liberty as was con- sistent with order and tribute. Most of the diffi- culties in Judzea arose from the religious zeal and intractable disposition of the Jews themselves. On the other hand, their liberties were liable at any moment to be overruled, if necessity seemed to require it; and the procurators were generally men who grievously abused their authority. The nation itself also was divided, and in an almost constant state of tumult. The recollection of these facts is necessary in order to appreciate the position of Pilate when Christ was brought before his bar.
Of Pilate’s origin we know nothing,* though it has been inferred, from his nomen Pontius, that he belonged to an ancient Samnite family whose name frequently appears in Roman history.+ His cognomen has, however, been derived from pileatus, —one who wore the pileus, the cap of manumitted slaves,—and the inference has been drawn that he was a freedman, or descended from one. But his appointment as procurator makes this improbable, since such officers were uniformly of equestrian rank.t Hence others derived Pilatus from pilum, ajavelin. His prenomen is unknown, nor does his name appear in history apart from his residence in Juda. He was preceded in office by Coponius (A.D. 6-9?), Mareus Ambivius (A.D. 9-127), Annius Rufus (A.D. 12-152), and Valerius Gratus (A.D. 15-26), and was appointed (Eus. HE i. 9) in the twelfth year of Tiberius (A.D. 26), and continued in office ten years (Jos. Ant. XVIII. iv. 2). The unusual ἐπι, of time during which he and Gratus held office was, in accordance with the policy of Tiberius, based on the opinion that governors who had already enriched themselves, would be better for the people than new ones whose avarice was yet unsatisfied (Jos. Ant. XVIII. vi. 5). Tacitus (Ann. i. 80, iv. 6) also notices the long governorships under Tiberius. Pilate came therefore to Judza con- temporaneously with the appearance of John the Baptist, and his rule covered the period of Jesus’ ministry and of the first establishment of Chris- tianity in Judea.
Pilate’s administration was marked by events which show both the difficulties of his task and the small effort which he made to understand the Jews or accommodate himself to their prejudices. The first disturbance (Jos. Ant. XVIII. iii. 1, BJ I. ix. 2, 3) probably occurred soon after his entrance on office. To satisfy the Jews, the Romans had directed their soldiers not to carry to Jerus. upon their standards the usual image of the emperor; but Pilate sent the army to Jerus. to winter, and directed that the standards, with the images upon them, should be taken by night into the sacred city. This seemed to the Jews a direct violation of their religious laws. Forthwith multitudes hastened to Cesarea to implore the governor to remove the images. For five days he refused to heed them, and on the sixth he admitted them to his presence, but suddenly ordered his soldiers to surround them, and threatened them with instant death if they persisted in their request. To his
* The Germanic legends mention several towns as the birth-
lace of Pilate. One of the most widespread locates his birth in yence, as the illegitimate child of a king (variously styled Cyrus, Tyrus, and Atus), who sent him, because of a murder, to Rome, whence, because of another murder, he was sent to Pontus, from which place he derived his name. There he served the em r by conquering the wild tribes of that region ; whereupon Herod made him his co-regent, and was in turn
overcome by him. See G. A. Miiller, Pont. Pil. p. 48 ff.
t See Pauly’s RE under ‘ Pontii.’
1 The case of Felix, who was a freedman, is remarked upon by Tacitus as if quite unusual.
§ He must have been removed early in a.p. 36, since Vitellius, after sending Pilate to Rome, attended a passover in Jerus. (Jos. Ant. xvi. iv. 3), and shortly after began the expedition against Aretas, king of the Nabateans, which, however, was prevented (Ant. xvint.vi, 4) by the news of Tiberius’ death (early in a.p. 37). Pilate’s appointment therefore is to be da A.D. 26, since
Josephus states that he ruled ten yeasa
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astonishment the Jews threw themselves on the ground, and declared that they would rather dic than endure the violation of their laws. Pilate, of course, had not intended so great a massacre, and was forced to direct the removal of the images. Another disturbance arose from Pilate’s use of the money contributed to the temple treasury, to build aqueducts toJerusalem. It has been suggested that his real object was to provide water for an army besieging the city (ef. Miller, Pont. Pil. p. 16). At any rate the project aroused violent opposition, and when Pilate came to Jerus. the people clamoured against his design. On this occasion, however, he silenced the tumult by introducing disguised soldiers into the crowd, who, at a signal, drew their clubs and scattered the multitude (Jos. Ant. XVIII. iii. 2). The incident, referred to in Lk 13}, of the ‘ Galileeans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices,’ is not mentioned by other authori- ties. Doubtless Pilate ordered them to be slain in the outer court of the temple, perhaps on account of some riot, while they were celebrating one of the feasts. This appeared to some an unusual judgment of Providence upon these men; and the incident illustrates the disturbed state of the country, the frequent severity of Pilate’s measures, and the odium in which the governor was held. The sedition in which Barabbas took part (Mk 157, Lk 23”) is another example of the turbulent state of the community ; while still another incident, characteristic of Pilate’s rule, is described by Philo (ad _Gaiwm, 38). Philo makes Agrippa relate to Caligula that Pilate once hung gilt shields in the