Matthew 27:1-14 Lesson 58
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
The Sanhedrin condemns Jesus and brings Him before Pontius Pilate.
Judas commits suicide.
The Sanhedrin condemns Jesus and brings Him before Pontius Pilate.
Judas commits suicide.
Christ before Pilate by the Hungarian realist artist Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900).
Study Tip:
Write down important Bible verses, ponder their meaning, and memorize them. Build a list of your favorite verses.
Write down important Bible verses, ponder their meaning, and memorize them. Build a list of your favorite verses.
Who was...
Pontius Pilate -
The fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria who served from 26 to 36 AD. He disliked his Judean assignment so far from home and was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's brutal reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained about him to Rome. They accused him of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he went to Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order when the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While in Jerusalem, the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to condemn a prisoner to death (John 18:31) so pressured Pilate to crucify Jesus. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. He repeatedly declared
Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4; 23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was still willing to execute Him. Already disciplined by his superiors in Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. In AD 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.
Pontius Pilate -
The fifth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea and Samaria who served from 26 to 36 AD. He disliked his Judean assignment so far from home and was no fan of the Jews. He was routinely charged with cruelty against them, accusations he usually deserved, and Jesus was well aware of Pilate's brutal reputation (Luke 13:1). The Jewish religious leaders returned Pilate's animosity and frequently complained about him to Rome. They accused him of corruption, cruelty, insensitivity to their customs, and once of stealing money from the Temple to build an aqueduct. Pilate's headquarters was in Caesarea, but he went to Jerusalem with his wife Claudia to keep order when the Holy City filled with pilgrims over the Passover holiday. While in Jerusalem, the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) brought Jesus to stand trial before him. The Sanhedrin lacked the authority to condemn a prisoner to death (John 18:31) so pressured Pilate to crucify Jesus. A pure politician, Pilate was more interested in political expediency than justice. He repeatedly declared
Jesus innocent (Luke 23:4; 23:14; 23:22; John 18:38) yet was still willing to execute Him. Already disciplined by his superiors in Rome once, Pilate wasn't willing to release Jesus and risk more Jewish complaints. In AD 36 Pilate finally lost favor with Rome after the Governor of Syria brought more charges of cruelty against him. He was exiled to Vienne in Gaul where he committed suicide in AD 38.