Archive for Pontius Pilate

Pontius Pilate’s Street

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , on October 29, 2019 by paulthepoke

Luke 23:20-24 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

Jerusalem, City of David: This is the oldest part of the city. A recent find of a step stoned street is believed to be built by Pontius Pilate. The street has its beginnings near the Pool of Siloam and goes north to what is known as Temple Mount. Pilate is believed to rule from 26 to 37 AD.

The road is measured to be 600 meters (655 yards) long and 8 meters (9 yards) wide. Previously, it was thought the street was constructed by Herod the Great who ruled from 37 to 4 BC.

But now, there have been over 100 coins discovered under the road. These coins point to the dates of 31 to 40 AD during the reign of Pontius Pilate.

“Dating using coins is very exact. Some coins show the year in which they were minted. If a coin found beneath a street is dated 30 C.E. then the street had to be built that same year or any time after 30 C.E.” -Dr. Donald T. Ariel, Archaeologist and coin expert, Israel Antiquities Authority

Photo: Ariel David, Haaretz

“It’s not just that we found Pilate’s coins. We also have to look at what we didn’t find and would have expected to find had the road been built after Agrippa I became king of Judea. From a statistical point of view it’s hard to imagine that the road was built after 41 because we don’t have any coins from that period.” Nashon Szanton, Archaeologist, Israel Antiquities Authority, Ph.D. Student at Tel Aviv University. Szanton is also the lead author for the research of the project.

Coins from Agrippa I were found above the pavement. Agrippa I ruled from 41 to 44 AD. These coins were found with burned material. History tells us Jerusalem and the Temple were leveled and torched in 70 AD by the Romans.

For more details on the dig, see the link provided below. Charts and pictures are provided.

https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03344355.2019.1650491

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-monumental-street-in-jerusalem-was-built-by-pontius-pilate-archaeologists-say-1.8004004

The narratives in the gospel accounts were real events and the people who participated were real people. Pontius Pilate was a real person. It appears he commissioned a real street with real steps in the City of David. And once again, the Bible confirms modern day science and archaeology.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0463941519

2 Comments »

Pontius Pilate and His Ring

Posted in Trend Update with tags , , , , , on December 29, 2018 by paulthepoke

Luke 23:5-7 But they were urgent, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place. When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor over Jerusalem and Israel from 26 AD to 36 AD. Pontius was his family name. Pilate comes from the Latin “Pilatus”. This means: one armed with a javelin.

Historically, Pilate was not kind to the Jewish people. He flaunted Roman symbols of power and authority in Jerusalem and in the Temple. He stole the Temple tax funds to build an aqueduct.

Jesus knew of Pilate and commented about his murderous actions. Pilate showed no regard for Jewish lives and Temple worship service. Tradition holds worshipping Jews were sacrificed by Romans in the Temple.

Luke 13:1-2 There were some present at that very time who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?”

In 36 AD, the Governor of Syria brought charges against Pilate. The historian Eusebius indicated Pilate committed suicide after being sent to Vienne in Gaul (modern day southeast France). -The Compact Bible Dictionary.

Drawing: J Rodman
Photo: C Amit, Hebrew University

Fifty years ago, a copper alloy ring was found. Not much attention was given to the ring until recently. In 1968 and 1969 archaeologist Gideon Foerster led the dig at Herod’s burial tomb and palace at Herodium.

Today, archeologist Roi Porat requested the ring be cleaned and re-examined. The ring is nothing fancy or regal.

The specific date of the ring is unknown. The ring was located with other artifacts including: glass, ostraca, pottery, decorated mud stoppers, and abundant metal artifacts (iron arrowheads, a large number of First Jewish Revolt coins). The find is estimated to be dated no later than 71 AD.

“It was important to publish a careful scientific article. But in practice we have a ring inscribed with the name Pilate and the personal connection just cries out,” said Roi Porat.

Historically, the last name “Pilate” was very rare in Roman culture.

“The family name Pontius was common in central and northern Italy during that era, but the name Pilatus was ‘extremely rare.’” -The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

Skeptics find it hard to believe Pontius Pilate would have worn the ring of a common citizen.

“Simple all-metal rings like the Herodium ring were primarily the property of soldiers, Herodian and Roman officials, and middle-income folk of all trades and occupations. It is therefore unlikely that Pontius Pilatus, the powerful and rich prefect of Judaea, would have worn a thin, all copper-alloy sealing ring.” -skeptical authors

“There is no way of proving either theory 100% and everyone can have his own opinion. It’s a nice story and interesting to wrap your head around.” -Roi Porat

https://www.timesofisrael.com/2000-year-old-ring-engraved-with-pilate-may-have-belonged-to-notorious-ruler/

Leave a comment »

What is Truth?

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 16, 2014 by paulthepoke

1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
Doctrinal Emphasis: Knowing Truth from Lies
Key Theme: These four epistles offer concepts of contrasts. Ultimately, what is the truth and what is a lie.
Memory Verse: 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than this, to hear my children walking in the truth.
God is the source of truth. All three persons of the Trinity are truth as a source. May God be found true (Romans 3:4). The Spirit is stated as truth in 1 John 5:7. Jesus proclaimed He is the truth in John 14:6. Jesus is the representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
Truth can be learned from many sources. Some of these include the apostles. The apostles saw, touched, and heard the truth in Jesus for themselves (1 John 1:1-3). Truth can be learned from members of the church. A positive example would be Demetrius who received a good testimony from the truth itself (3 John 1:12). Truth can be learned from the spirits. But it is important to test the spirits to determine if they are from God (1 John 4:1). A teacher of the church can teach the truth for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Practically, the truth can be learned by reading the Word, our Bible.
There are consequences when choosing or rejecting the truth. Choices lead to practicing righteousness or sin (1 John 3:7-10). There is the choice of light (God) or darkness (lies), (1 John 1:5-6). How do we handle the issue of sin? Are sins confessed or is personal sin denied? Confession of sins results in forgiveness and cleansing. Denying sin results in making Christ a liar (1 John 1:8-10).
There are considerations of obedience and practice in regards to God’s commandments. Application of teaching determines whether or not one has God (2 John 1:6-9). Choose good over evil (3 John 1:11). The choice to love leads to life. He who does not love abides in death (1 John 3:14). Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). It is important to practice what one believes. Ultimately, your eternity hinges on whether or not you believe the truth that Jesus died for sins (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that truth is not found in Satan. He is the father of lies. It is his nature to lie. It is his desire to lie. Satan does not stand for the truth. He is a liar. Satan is a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8).  Satan has many instruments at his disposal to dispatch lies. The antichrist of the future is noted in 1 John 2:18. Even now the spirit of the antichrist is at work (1 John 4:3). In Revelation 13 the beast from the earth or the false prophet dispenses lies. He calls for the worship of the antichrist. False spirits are called to be tested in 1 John 4:1. False prophets (1 John 4:1) are at work in the world. Satan also has demons at his disposal. He is the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24).
Members of the church are noted. Negative characteristics of men are described in Jude 1:12, 13, and 16. A specific example of a man in the church would be Diotrephes. He rejected the authority of the apostles and was singled out with condemnation (3 John 1:9-10). Satan also has the world at his disposal. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).
What is truth? – Pontius Pilate

1 Comment »

%d bloggers like this: