Pontius Pilate in the Bible

Exact Match

Now in the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being ruler of Judaea, and Herod being king of Galilee, his brother Philip king of the country of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias king of Abilene,

Verse ConceptsCaesarGovernorsLeaders, PoliticalRankTetrarchRoman EmperorsRulers Of A FourthNamed Gentile Rulers

Thematic Bible



They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.

As soon as it was daylight, the Chief Priests, after holding a consultation with the Councillors and Teachers of the Law--that is to say, the whole High Council--put Jesus in chains, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate.

Then they all rose in a body and led Jesus before Pilate. And they began to accuse him: "This is a man whom we found misleading our people, preventing them from paying taxes to the Emperor, and giving out that he himself is 'Christ, a King.'" "Are you the King of the Jews?" Pilate asked him. "It is true," replied Jesus. read more.
But Pilate, turning to the Chief Priests and the people, said: "I do not see anything to find fault with in this man." But they insisted: "He is stirring up the people by his teaching all through Judea; he began with Galilee and has now come here." Hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; And, having satisfied himself that Jesus came under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who also was at Jerusalem at the time.

From Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Government House. It was early in the morning. But they did not enter the Government House themselves, lest they should become 'defiled,' and so be unable to eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate came outside to speak to them. "What charge do you bring against this man?" he asked.


There have indeed gathered together in this city against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you has consecrated the Christ, not Herod and Pontius Pilate only, but the nations and the people of Israel besides--

I urge you, as in the sight of God, the source of all life, and of Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the great profession of Faith--

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has done honor to his Servant Jesus--him whom you gave up and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to set him free.

From Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Government House. It was early in the morning. But they did not enter the Government House themselves, lest they should become 'defiled,' and so be unable to eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate came outside to speak to them. "What charge do you bring against this man?" he asked. "If he had not been a criminal, we should not have given him up to you," they answered. read more.
"Take him yourselves," said Pilate, "and try him by your own Law." "We have no power to put any one to death," the Jews replied- - In fulfillment of what Jesus had said when indicating the death that he was destined to die. After that, Pilate went into the Government House again, and calling Jesus up, asked him: "Are you the King of the Jews?" "Do you ask me that yourself?" replied Jesus, "or did others say it to you about me?" "Do you take me for a Jew?" was Pilate's answer. "It is your own nation and the Chief Priests who have given you up to me. What have you done?" "My kingly power," replied Jesus, "is not due to this world. If it had been so, my servants would be doing their utmost to prevent my being given up to the Jews; but my kingly power is not from the world." "So you are a King after all!" exclaimed Pilate. "Yes, it is true I am a King," answered Jesus. "I was born for this, I have come into the world for this--to bear testimony to the Truth. Every one who is on the side of Truth listens to my voice." "What is Truth?" exclaimed Pilate. After saying this, he went out to the Jews again, and said: "For my part, I find nothing with which he can be charged. It is, however, the custom for me to grant you the release of one man at the Passover Festival. Do you wish for the release of the King of the Jews?" "No, not this man," they shouted again, "but Barabbas!" This Barabbas was a robber.

They found no ground at all for putting him to death, and yet demanded his execution from Pilate;


After this, Joseph of Ramah, a disciple of Jesus--but a secret one, owing to his fear of the Jews--begged Pilate's permission to remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave; so Joseph went and removed the body.

When evening had fallen, there came a rich man belonging to Ramah, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. He went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus; upon which Pilate ordered it to be given him.

Joseph from Ramah, a Councillor of good position, who was himself living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, came and ventured to go in to see Pilate, and to ask for the body of Jesus. But Pilate was surprised to hear that he had already died. So he sent for the Officer, and asked if he were already dead; And, on learning from the Officer that it was so, he gave the corpse to Joseph.

He now went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus;


In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene,

They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.


So, when the people had collected, Pilate said to them: "Which do you wish me to release for you? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called 'Christ'?"


When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."


"Take him yourselves," said Pilate, "and try him by your own Law." "We have no power to put any one to death," the Jews replied- -


"Why, what harm has this man done?" Pilate said to them for the third time. "I have found nothing in him for which he could be condemned to death. So I will have him scourged, and then release him."


And, having satisfied himself that Jesus came under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who also was at Jerusalem at the time.


Just at that time some people had come to tell Jesus about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.


When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."


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