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Author's Background
Pontius Pilate (1 BC - circa AD 37) was the fifth Roman procurator of
Judea (AD 26 - 36 ) under Emperor Tiberius, who sentenced Jesus to death
by crucifixion. The quotes below refer to the Acts
of Pontius Pilate.
The existence of the Acts of Pontius Pilate is
strongly supported by Epiphanius (Heresies
50.1), Justin Martyr (First Apology, A.D. 150)
and Tertullian (Apology, A.D. 200). The Acts
of Pontius Pilate were kept in the Roman archives as stated in the
following quote.
The ancient Romans were scrupulously careful to preserve
the memory of all remarkable events which happened in the city; and this
was done either in their "Acts of the Senate" (Acts Senatus),
or in the
"Daily Acts of the People" (Acta Diurna Populi), which were
diligently made and kept at Rome . . . In like manner it was customary
for the governors of provinces to send to the emperor an account of remarkable
transactions that occurred in the places where they resided, which were
preserved in the "Acts of" their respective governments . .
. we find, long before the time of Eusebius [3rd century], that the primitive
Christians, in their disputes with the Gentiles, appealed to these "Acts
of Pilate"
. . . Thus, Justin Martyr, in his first "Apology" for the Christians,
which was presented to the Emperor Antoninus Pius [A.D. 138-161] and
the senate of Rome, about the year [A.D.] 140, having mentioned the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ and some of its attendant circumstances, adds, "And
these things were done, you may know from the 'Acts' made in the time
of Pontius Pilate."
[1]
It should be noted that some believe a fraudulent version of the Acts
of Pilate was circulated later in the fourth and fifth centuries. This
should not be confused with the original document that was generated
in the first century, archived in Rome and was available to Caesar
Antoninus Pius and the Roman Senate. Otherwise, Justin
Martyr's appeal to the Acts of Pilate in
his First
Apology would
have lacked credibility.
Reference To Jesus Christ
And that it was predicted that our Christ should heal all diseases and
raise the dead, hear what was said. There are these words: “At
His coming the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerer
shall be clear speaking: the blind shall see, and the lepers shall be
cleansed; and the dead shall rise, and walk about.” And that He
did those things, you can learn from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. - First Apology 48
And the expression, “They pierced my hands and my feet,” was
used in reference to the nails of the cross which were fixed in His hands
and feet. And after He was crucified they cast lots upon His vesture,
and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things
did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate. - First Apology 35
Conclusion
This reference reveals several key things:
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1) Christ performed amazing miracles. |
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2) Christ died on a cross with hands and feet pierced with nails. |
References:
1. Cyclonic and Strong. Cyclopedia
of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. 1867-1887. 62-63.
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