I have in my possession a copy of the letter written by Pontius Pilate
to Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome. This Historic letter written by
Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar Letter is from the "Archko Volume"
containing manuscripts, in Constantinople, and the Records of the
Senatorial Docket, taken from the Library at Rome, Translated by Drs.
McIntosh and Twyman of the Antiquerian Lodge, Genoa, Italy. This has
been checked and is in accord with the copy of the original lodged in
the British Museum, which has verified the accuracy of the
transcription. Verified in November, 1935. Historic Letter Resurrected
Pilate's lengthy letter to Tiberius Caesar---Discusses at length the
arrest, the trial and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
TIBERIUS CAESAR-EMPEROR OF ROME-NOBLE SOVEREIGN GREETING:
The events of the last few days in my providence have been of such a
character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I
should not be surprised if, in the course of, time, they may change the
destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have
ceased to be propitous. I am almost ready to say, Cursed be the day that
I succeeded Vallerius Falceus in the government of Judea; for since
then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.
On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the Praetorium, and
ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the Tetrarch
of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed
hour no guest appeared. This I considered an insult offered my dignity,
and the whole government which I represent. A few days later, the high
priest designed to pay me a visit. His deportment was grave and
deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants
to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with
them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeming, for his very
countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to
accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered
had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn
the Romans to beware of the high Priests of this country. They would
betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems
to me that, of conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to
govern. So turbulent are the people that I live in momentary dread of an
insurrection. I have not soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I had only
one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I requested a
reinforcement from the perfect of Syria, who informed me that he had
scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. An insatiate
thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending
it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our whole
government. I lived secluded from the masses, for I do not know what
those priests might influence the rabble to do; yet I endeavored to
ascertain, as far as I could, the mind and standing of the people.
I WAS TOLD IT WAS JESUS
Among the various rumors that came to my ears there was one in
particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it was said,
appeared in Galiee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name
of God who had sent him. At first I was apprehensive that his design was
to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon
dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than
of the Jews. One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there was a
great concourse of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young
man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I
was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great was
the difference between him and those listening to him. His
golden-colored hair and beard gave him the appearance of a celestial
aspect. He appeared to be about thirty years old. Never have I seen a
sweeter or more serene countenance. What a Contrast between him and his
hearers, with their black beards and tawny complexion!
Unwilling to interrupt him by my presence, I continued to walk, but
signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's
name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who
encamped in Eturia waiting for Cataline. Manlius had been for a long
time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew
language. He was devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. On entering
the Praetorium I found Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had
pronounced at Siloe. Never have I read in the works of the philosophers
anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus. One of the rebellious
Jews, so numerous in Jerusalem, having asked Jesus if it was lawful to
give tribute to Caesar, he replied: "Render unto Caesar the things that
belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's."
I EXTENDED TO HIM MY PROTECTION
It was on account of his sayings that I granted so much liberty to the
Nazarene; for it was in my power to have him arrested, and exiled to
Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has
always characterized the Roman Government in all its dealings with men;
this man was neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to him my
protection, unknown perhaps to himself. He was at liberty to act, to
speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples,
unrestrained by any Praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen {May the
gods avert the omen!} should it ever happen, I say that the religion of
our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be
to this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature death, while
I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call
Providence, and we call destiny.
This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews--not the poor,
but the rich and powerful. It is true that Jesus was severe on the
latter, and this was a political reason, in my opinion, for not
restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. "Scribes and Pharisees," he
would say to them, "you are a race of vipers; you resemble painted
sepulchers; you appear well unto men, but you have death within you." At
other times he would sneer at the alms of the rich and proud, telling
them that the mite of the poor was more precious in the sight of God.
Complaints were daily made at the Praetorium against the insolence of
Jesus.
I was even informed that some misfortune would befall him; that it would
not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who called
themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. However, my
conduct was approved by the Senate, and I was promised a reinforcement
after the termination of the Parthian War.
Being too weak to suppress an insurrection, I resolved upon adopting a
measure that promised to restore the tranquility of the city without
subjecting the Praetorium to humiliating concession. I wrote to Jesus
requesting an interview with him at the Praetorium. He came. You know
that in my veins flows the Spanish mixed with Roman blood--as incapable
of fear as it is of weak emotion. When the Nazarene made his appearance I
was walking in my basilica, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron
hand to the marble pavement, and I trembled in every limb as does a
guilty culprit, though the Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself.
When he came up to me he stopped,and by a signal sign he seemed to say
to me, "I am here," though he spoke not a word. For some time I
contemplated with admiration and awe this extraordinary type of man--a
type unknown to our numerous painters, who have given form and figure to
all the gods and the heroes. There was nothing about him that was
repelling in his character, yet I felt too awed and tremulous to
approach him.
"Jesus," said I unto him at last--and my tongue faltered--"Jesus of
Nazareth, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of
speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage--I know not
whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know, there is in
your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those
philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble
representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you that
liberty of which you are worthy. However. I must not conceal from you
that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate
enemies. Nor is this surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell
victim of their hatred. Yours are doubly incensed--against you on
account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct; against
me on account of the liberty I have afforded you. They even accuse me of
being indirectly leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the
Hebrews of the little civil power which Rome has left them. My
request---I do not say an order---is, that you be more circumspect and
moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of them,
lest you arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you
the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law."
The Nazarene calmly replied: "Prince of the earth, your words proceed
not from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop in the midst of the
mountain-gorge: it will uproot the trees of the valley. The torrent will
answer you that it obeys the laws of nature and the Creator. God alone
knows whither flow the waters of the torrent. Verily I say unto you,
before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be
spilt."
"Your blood shall not be spilt," said I, with deep emotion: "you are
more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all of the
turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by the
Romans. They conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear,
impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin.
Insolent wretches! they are not aware that the wolf of the Tiber
sometimes clothes himself with the skin of sheep to accomplish his
wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My Praetorium shall be
an asylum both day and night."
"THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED"
Jesus carelessly shook his head, and said with a grave and divine smile:
"When the day shall come there will be no asylums for the son of man,
neither in the earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the just is
there," pointing to the heavens. "That which is written in the books of
the prophets must be accomplished."
"Young man," I answered mildly, "you will oblige me to convert my
requests into an order. The safety of the province which has been
confided to my care requires it. You must observe more moderation in
your discourses. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences.
May happiness attend you. Farewell."
"I CAME NOT TO BRING WAR INTO THE WORLD, BUT PEACE, LOVE AND CHARITY."
"Prince of the earth," replied Jesus. I come not to bring war into the
world, but peace, love and charity. I was born the same day on which
Augustus Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecutions proceed not
from me. I expect it from others, and I will meet it in obedience to the
will of my Father, who has shown me the way. Restrain, therefore, your
worldly prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the victim at the
foot of the tabernacle of expiation."
So saying he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the curtains of the
basilica--to my great relief, for I felt a heavy burden on me, of which
I could not relieve myself of in his presence.
JESUS APPEARED TO BE ONE OF THOSE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS THAT GREAT NATIONS SOMETIMES PRODUCE
To Herod, who then reigned in Galilee, the enemies of Jesus addressed
themselves, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. Had Herod
consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately
put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated
to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or
like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer
to be afraid of a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the
Praetorium, and, on rising to take leave, after some trifling
conversation, asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene. I
replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers
that great nations sometimes produced; that his doctrines were by no
means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave him to
that freedom of speech which was justified by his actions. Herod smiled
maliciously, and, saluting me with ironical respect, departed.
CLAMORING FOR THE DEATH OF THE NAZARENE
The great feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to
avail themselves of the popular exultation which always manifests itself
at the solemnities of the Passover. The city was overflowing with a
tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My
emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed
in bribing the people. The danger was pressing. A Roman centurion had
been insulted. I wrote to the Perfect of Syria for a hundred foot
soldiers and as many cavalry. He declined. I saw myself alone with a
handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to
suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They
had seized upon Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had
nothing to fear from the Praetorium, believing, as their leaders had
told them, that I winked at their sedition, continued vociferating:
"Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus.
First, the Herodians and the Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed
to have proceeded from double motives: they hated the Nazarene and were
impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered
the holy city with banners that bore the image of the Roman emperor; and
although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the
sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. Another grievance
also rankled in their bosoms. I had proposed to employ a part of the
treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. My proposal
was scorned. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared
not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands,
which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them
wherever he went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had
embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Besides these
three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate
populace, always ready to join sedition, and profit by the disorder and
confusion that resulted therefrom.
CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Jesus was dragged before the High Priest, and condemned to death. It was
then that the High Priest, Caiaphas, performed a divisory act of
submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and
secure his execution. I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the
affair came under Herod's jurisdiction, and ordered him to be sent
thither. The wily Tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his
deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man
to my hands. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel.
Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Jerusalem was
inundated with crowds from the mountains of Nazareth. All Judea appeared
to be pouring into the city.
"BEWARE, BEWARE, AND TOUCH NOT THAT MAN; FOR HE IS HOLY."
I had taken a wife from among the Gauls, who pretended to see into
futurity. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me:
"Beware. Beware, and touch not that man; for he is holy. Last night I
saw a vision. he was walking on the water; he was flying on the wings of
the wind. He spoke to the tempest and to the fishes of the lake; all
were obedient to him. Behold, the torrent of Mount Kedron flows with
blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with gemonide; the columns of
the interium have given away and the sun is veiled in mourning like a
vestal in the tomb. Ah! Pilate, evil; awaits thee. If thou wilt not
listen to the vows of thy wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread
the frowns of Caesar."
By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude.
The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of
justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone
what they demanded.
"The death of the Nazarene," was the reply.
"For what crime?"
"He blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; he calls himself the Son of God; the Messiah, the King of the Jew."
"Roman justice," said I, "punishes not such offences with death."
"CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!"
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" cried the relentless rabble. The
vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations.
There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast
multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many fruitless attempts to protect
him from the fury of his merciless prosecutors, I adopted a measure
which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save
his life. I proposed a measure, as it was their custom to deliver a
prisoner on such occasions, to release Jesus and let him go free, that
he might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must
be crucified. I then spoke to them of the inconsistency of their course
as being incompatible with their laws, showing that no criminal judge
could pass sentence on a criminal unless he had fasted one whole day;
and that the sentence must have the consent of the Sanhedrin, and the
signature of the president of that court; that no criminal could be
executed on the same day his sentence was fixed, and the next day, on
the day of his execution, the Sanhedrin was required to review the whole
proceeding; also, according to their law, a man was stationed at the
door of the court with a flag, and another a short way off on horseback
to cry the name of the criminal and his crime, and the names of his
witnesses, and to know if anyone could testify in his favor; and the
prisoner on his way to execution had the right to turn back three times,
and to plead any new thing in his favor. I urged all these pleas,
hoping they might awe them into subjection; but they cried, "Crucify
him! Crucify him!"
I THEN CALLED FOR A BASIN, AND WASHED MY HANDS
I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but
it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my
hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that
in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death;
but in vain. It was his life these wretches thirsted for.
Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the
multitude, but nothing could be compared with what I witnessed on this
occasion. it might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the
infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to
walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in
living waves from the portals of the Praetorium even into Mount Zion,
with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never
heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum.
By degrees the day darkened like a winter's twilight, such as had been
at the death of the great Julius Caesar. It was likewise the ides of
March. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning
against a column of my basilica, contemplating athwart the dreary gloom
these fiends of Tartrus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All
around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her indwellers
through the funeral gates that leads to Gemonica. An air of desolation
and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the
centurion, with a distressed play of power, was endeavoring to keep
order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what
was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the
gods, than that of men. A loud clamor was heard proceeding from
Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as
was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle
of the temple, and setting over the city covered it as with a veil. So
dreadful were the signs that men saw both in the heavens and on the
earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed:
"Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling
apart."
Whilst these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a
dreadful earthquake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear,
and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar,
an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement
was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a
strong friend of the Nazarene.
THE SACRICIFICE WAS CONSUMMATED
Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went
down into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was
consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true,
but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had
stricken them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohort
pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in
token of grief, and I overheard some of the Jewish soldiers murmuring
strange words which I did not understand. Others were recounting
miracles very like those which have so often smitten the Romans by the
will of gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt remain
motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy.
THEY ALL SLUNK OFF LIKE COWARDLY CURS
I returned to the Praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs,
the steps of which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I
perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several
Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept most bitterly. It
is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already
overcharged with grief, we though strangers, wept together. And in truth
it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I
perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an
extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold him, those who
testified against him, those who cried, "Crucify him! we have his
blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with
vinegar. As I am told that Jesus taught a resurrection and a separation
after death, if such be the fact, I am sure it commenced in this vast
crowd.
"Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings," who are you, and what is your request?"
PERMISSION TO BURY JESUS OF NAZARETH
"I am Joseph of Arimathaea," replied he, "and am come to beg of you upon bended knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth."
" Your prayer is granted." I said to him, and I ordered Manilus to take
some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be
profaned.
A few days after the sepulcher was found empty. His disciples proclaimed
all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had
foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. And to
its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation
of the matter; so you can examine for yourself see if I am in fault, as
Herod represents.
Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated his
resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day
after he was buried one of the priests came to the Paetorium and said
they were apprehensive that his disciples intended to steal the body of
Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that he had risen from the
dead, as he had foretold and of which they were perfectly convinced. I
sent him to the captain of the royal guard {Malcus} to tell him to take
the Jewish soldiers, and place as many around the sepulcher as were
needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and
not the Romans.
When the great excitement arose about the sepulcher being empty, I felt a
deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had
placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the
sepulcher. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed
at what had occurred there that morning I sent for this man Isham, who
related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances;
He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch; He saw a soft
and beautiful light over the sepulcher. He at first thought the women
had come to embalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could
not see how they had gotten through the guards. While these thoughts
were passing through his mind, behold the whole place was lighted up,
and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their graveclothes. All
seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and
above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard: and the whole air
seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to
be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and
faint that he could not stand on his feet. he said the earth seemed to
swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he knew not what
did occur. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the
light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he
thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then
he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness
might not have come from being awakened and getting up too suddenly, as
it sometimes had the effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep
all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said
he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I
asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but he
thought it was nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of the
day. I asked him if he went to the sepulcher after he had come to
himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief
came they all went to their quarters. I asked him if he had been
questioned by the priests. he said he had. They wanted him to say it was
an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say
that the disciples came and stole Jesus; but we saw no disciples, he did
not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was
the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said
that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human
being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that
was said to be born of the Virgin in Bethlehem; that the same person had
been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and
places.
It seemed to me that if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are
correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and
testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his
hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water
into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he
could calm the seas, still the storms, call up fish with a silver coin
in its mouth. Now, I say if he could do all these things, which he did
and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things
that created this enmity against him-- he was not charged with criminal
offenses, nor was he charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any
individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as
well by his foes as by his friends--I am almost ready to say, as did
Manlius at the cross: "Truly this was the Son of God."
Now noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can
arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so
that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear Antipater has
said many hard things of me in this matter. With the promise of
faithfulness and good wishes to my noble Sovereign.
I am your obedient servant.
Pontius Pilate.
This letter backs up the biblical account of the events of the Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For more information see videos below.
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