Did you know this about Pontius Pilate? You might be surprised!
On this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, Ryan Scheel and Ryan DellaCrosse join Jimmy Akin to discuss Pontius Pilate, the man who condemned Christ to the Cross.
Here are three facts most people probably never learned about Pontius Pilate:
1. Pilate’s Middle-Class Roman Background
Pontius Pilate was no high-ranking Roman senator. In fact, he was of the equestrian class, the Roman equivalent of the middle class.
“Pontius Pilate was a Roman knight, which means he probably served with some military distinction and then was given the post in Judea as a sort of reward,” Scheel explains.
This could explain why he often found himself walking a tightrope, caught between appeasing Roman authorities and trying to keep peace with the Jewish people.
2. Archaeological Evidence of Pilate’s Rule
In 1961, archaeologists discovered the "Pilate Stone" in Caesarea Maritima. This limestone block, which bore Pilate’s name and title, was part of a building called the Tiberium.
Jimmy Akin says this discovery “was definite archaeological confirmation of Pilot's existence."
The inscription is the only contemporary physical evidence of Pilate, providing clear, tangible proof of his role in Judea during the time of Jesus.
3. Pontius Pilate, the Saint?
Jimmy Akin says some sources suggest Pilate might have converted to Christianity after the death of Jesus.
“There’s a whole body of literature called the ‘Pilate Cycle,’” Akin shares, “In some versions, Pilate is portrayed as a repentant figure who ultimately converts to Christianity, while other traditions claim he was even martyred for his faith.”
For this reason, in the Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches, Pontius Pilate is considered a saint. The guys say that learning more about the man who condemned Christ to the Cross might change the way you think about Pontius Pilate!