05-01-2013, 03:50 AM
"To me, it seems that's the reason Pilate was not very decisive in the Gospel accounts: he didn't have any information about the case ahead of time, and possibly had never even heard of Jesus before that day."
I am not sure it was quite as simple as that. I subscribe more to the view argued in this article:
http://paulbarnett.info/tag/pontius-pilate/
Further to the content of the article, it has also been convincingly argued that Pilate's appointment at the same time Sejanus took charge might indicate that his appointment was by Sejanus and that there might even have been a patronage relationship between them. Therefore, if this was the case he might be expected to follow his patron's opinions in his actions, hence the harsh and insensitive actions described by Josephus and Philo. Philo states categorically that Sejanus hated the Jews.
It is also possible that some members of the Sanhedrin may have had their own contacts in Rome. There had been a Jewish delegation to Rome some years before and it is possible, if not probable that both Ananus and Caiaphus were part of it. Pilate also consulted Caiaphus prior to taking up his appointment, suggesting the Caiaphus may have visited Rome in AD26. Therefore, the Sanhedrin could easily blackmail Pilate into doing what they wanted with the threat that they knew enough people in Rome to ruin his career, once Tiberius was back in power.
Sorry to pull this somewhat OT
Crispvs
I am not sure it was quite as simple as that. I subscribe more to the view argued in this article:
http://paulbarnett.info/tag/pontius-pilate/
Further to the content of the article, it has also been convincingly argued that Pilate's appointment at the same time Sejanus took charge might indicate that his appointment was by Sejanus and that there might even have been a patronage relationship between them. Therefore, if this was the case he might be expected to follow his patron's opinions in his actions, hence the harsh and insensitive actions described by Josephus and Philo. Philo states categorically that Sejanus hated the Jews.
It is also possible that some members of the Sanhedrin may have had their own contacts in Rome. There had been a Jewish delegation to Rome some years before and it is possible, if not probable that both Ananus and Caiaphus were part of it. Pilate also consulted Caiaphus prior to taking up his appointment, suggesting the Caiaphus may have visited Rome in AD26. Therefore, the Sanhedrin could easily blackmail Pilate into doing what they wanted with the threat that they knew enough people in Rome to ruin his career, once Tiberius was back in power.
Sorry to pull this somewhat OT
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net
