In history, covered with the dust of centuries and tragic events, there are many mysteries and white spots. However, the biblical stories that told us about the terrible execution of Christ more than two thousand years ago mention the main participants in this drama. In addition to the Savior, his apostles, followers and two thieves, who also died on the crosses, the Holy Scripture tells about a certain Pontius Pilate. He stands alone in this confusion.
Procurator of Judea Pontius Pilate in the Bible has a very controversial character. He combines opposite qualities - hypocrisy and honesty, directness and double-mindedness, indecision and determination, courage and fearfulness. There is nothing surprising in the fact that the evangelists paint us such a detailed portrait of the man who signed the death warrant of their teacher. They not only evaluate the events that have fallen like a crown of thorns on the head of the only worthy person in the world, but also force us, the inhabitants of the twenty-first century, to reconsider our lives. Maybe some of us continue to crucify Jesus, compromising our own conscience under the influence of other people and external factors.
Pontius Pilate, whose biography has a lotwhite spots, in Soviet historiography was considered a mythical person. However, now modern historians, under the pressure of numerous facts of science, are forced to admit that the biblical stories about the life and death of Christ are by no means fiction. And the procurator Pontius Pilate himself is the same reality as the emperor Nero or the gladiator Spartacus. Not only the Gospel mentions the procurator. Such ancient authors as Philo of Alexandria, Josephus Flavius, Tacitus and Eusebius tell in detail about this man. Archaeologists have found quite a few coins that were issued at that time by Pilate and they are really genuine.
What is known today about a man called Pontius Pilate? His biography began with difficulties. Some researchers claim that Pontius was born in Rome, others that he was an illegitimate child of the king of Tyre, others believe that he was from a noble family and received diplomatic training. Constantly moving up the ranks, he soon rose to the post of procurator in Judea. You can trace his path more clearly from this position.
Pontius Pilate, whose biography is interesting for both Christians and historians of other faiths, arrived in Judea on the appointment of Tiberius in 26 AD. With him came the wife of Claudius Procula, who was the illegitimate daughter of Claudius and the granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. This woman was a very intelligent and outstanding person, faithful to her husband. The new procurator was distinguished by cruelty, because he wanted to conqueran unreliable province and make it prosperous. The people, of course, didn't like it. History has preserved data on the confrontations between the Roman governor and the Jews, captured the procurator's benevolence towards brave and courageous enemies. He built new buildings, plumbing, using the sacred money of the Jews, which caused a new murmur. After the Calvary execution, the procurator ruled the province for another three years. Then, thanks to numerous complaints and denunciations, he was dismissed. According to legend, Pontius committed suicide in exile.
Pontius Pilate, whose biography is discussed above, is a real and extraordinary person who changed the course of history and fulfilled his destiny from above.
