If Luke was a physician (Col 4"), as Harnack has adduced strong reasons for maintaining (Lvkas der ^rsC, Leipzig, 1906, p. 122 ff., Eng. tr., Luke the Physician, London and New York, 1907, Appendix, p. 175 ff.; cf. W. K. Hobart, The Medical Language of St. Paul, Dublin, 1882 ; T. Zahn, Einleitung in das NT, Erlangen, 1897-1900, ii. 435fl. , Eng. tr.. Introduction <o <Ae AT, Edin- burgh, 1909, iii. 160 ft'.), and, further, if Luke was a Greek either of Antioch or of Antiochian descent, he may have bad such training as was character- istic of Asia Minor at that time.
Literature. — Hippokrates, Genuine Works, Eng. tr.,London, 1849 ; Edward Meryon, The History of Medicine, do., 1861 ; H. E. Handerson, Outlines of the Uistorii of Medicine and the Medical Profension. New York, 1889 ; T. Puschmann. Hiytorif of Medical Educalimi, Enp. tr., London, 1891 ; A. Harnack, Mediciniscfies aus der dltesten Kircheniieschichle, Leipzig, 1S9'J ; Edward Berdoe, The Origin and Growth of the Healing Art,
238
PILATE, PONTIUS
PILLAE
do., 1S93: J. Pagel, Ein/uhning in die Geschichte der Mediein, Berlin, 1S9S ; Max Nefuburger and J. Pagel, Ilandbuch der Geschichte der Medizin, Jena, 1001-06; Roswell Park, An Kpito)ne of the HisUtry 0/ Medicine, Philadelphia, 190(! ; Max Neuburger, Oi:schichte der Medizin, Stuttgart, 11>()G;J. S. Milne, Snniiful Itiatrnments in Greek and Iloman Times, Oxford, laCT ; W. M. Ramsay. Luke the Physician, London, 190S; David AUyn Gorton, The Ui^tory of Medicine, New York, 1910 ; J. E. Sandys, A Companion to Latin Studies^ Cambridge, 1910, p. 716 ff. C. A. BeCKWITH.
PILATE, PONTIUS.— The name of the Roman procurator of JiuUea, Samaria, and Idumoea (A.D. 26-36), whose ]i.'irt in the cruciKxion of Jesus is re- counted in the Gospels, occurs four times elsewliere in the NT, and always in reflexions upon that event. Its first mention (Ac 3") is in the speecli of Peter after the healing of the lame man at the Temple f;ate. There the emphasis is laid upon the sin of the Jews in denying Jesus and delivering Him up to Pilate, of whom it is said, in exoneration, that he was determined to let Him go. Some ex- tenuation of their, guilt, however, is found in the fact that they sinned in ignorance ; and, as God has glorified Jesus and made tlieir wickedness to serve the fulfilment of His purpose in Him, the hope of pardon is presented to them. With this reference may he taken that (Ac 13^) in Paul's address at Antioch in Pisidia, which somewh.at resembles the earlier speech of Peter. Here, while the same view is taken of the Divine significance of Christ's death and its fulfilment of prophecy, the sin of the Jews is not so strongly insisted upon, and on the other hand a less favourable conception of Pilate's action seems to be implied. Of the Jews it is only asserted that, though they found no cause of death in Jesus, yet they desired Pilate that He should be slain ; to Pilate no determina- tion to release Him is ascribed, or even a disin- clination to yield to their request. The Jews accused Christ wrongly through not understanding their own Scriptures ; i'ilate, so far as appears, callously put Him to death at their bidding. His guilt is accentuated in the remaining reference to him in Acts (4'-''). The context is a prayer of the early believers on the release of Peter and John from prison, which proceeds upon a Messianic in- terpretation of Ps 2 and its application to the death of Christ. Pilate is represented as a ruler of the earth who conspired with King Herod (Lk 23'-), the Gentiles, and the people of Israel against the Lord's Anointed. Again his action is conceived as overruled by God for His own purpose ; but his guilt is neither extenuated nor left to be Inferred. It is explicitly stated and regarded as consisting, not merely in the sacrifice of an innocent person, but in an act of rebellion against God. This view of Pilate's conduct, with regard to Christ, probably prevailed in the inner circles of the gospel, since it found expression so early in the intimacy of their religious fellowship. It would be strengthened by the appearance of Divine retribution in the disgrace that hefell Pilate in A.D. 36, when he was recalled to Rome at the instigation of Vitellius, and in later years would help to mould the legends that gathered round his name. The last mention of him in the NT (I Ti 6'^) is unimportant, so far as he is con- cerned. It is an allusion to Christ's virtual con- fession of His Messiahship in Pilate's presence, when He claimed to be a king. D. Frew.
PILGRIM.— See Stranger.
PILLAR. — The pillar (o-tuXos) is the symbol of stability and firmness, that which upholds and sustains. Its figurative use is confined to the NT, in the following passages.
1. Gal 2^. — 'IdKw/3os Kal Ktj^Ss Kal 'Iwci*'?;?, ol SoKovi'Tet (TtiSXm elvai, ' James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars.' ariXoi, which
was used quite commonly as a descriptive title for the great Rabbis, here refers to those already mentioned (Gal 2') 'who were of repute'— the recognized leaders, and (v.") ' tuose who were reputed to be somewhat' — considerable persons, ' those who are the great authorities with you Galatians now' (Ellicott, in loc).