Well, it is not that simple.
If you want to believe the gospels, Pilate wanted to let Jesus go and not execute him.
However, some priests made accusations that Jesus planned a riot.
Pilate couldn't see any proof of this, but couldn't get out of crucifying Jesus anyway.
The priests had somehow managed to convince enough people to demand it.
Is all of this true?
That is not an easy question to answer after almost two thousand years.
However, it is clear that early Christians blamed Jesus's death on "the Jews".
Pilate is portrayed as an unwilling pawn in some vicious plot to get Jesus killed.
There are some legends, which tell us that Pilate's wife became a Christian.
reply
share
Quasimodo (16388)
4 years ago
The Gospels were written decades after the death of Jesus and as each Gospel came along they became increasingly anti-Jewish. This mirrors the growing schism between the Jews and the Christians who were themselves Jews to begin with but eventually split away from Judaism altogether.
I recommend the following PBS documentary if you are interested in the early history of Christianity. It is from a historical not a true believer perspective:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/showsreligion/
reply
share
Furienna (3377)
4 years ago
Yes, it is true that some parts of the New Testament have an anti-Jewish slant.
But I can still believe that many priests wouldn't have approved of laymen preachers.
Remember how Jesus attacked the merchants outside the temple?
I believe that that alone was enough to make the priests feel a need to get rid of him.
Of course, you can argue that it can't be true that Pilate would try to save him.
However, it is hardly unlikely that the local clergy would have wanted to stop Jesus.
Because a rebel leader could have hurt their positions and vexed the Romans.
reply
share
Quasimodo (16388)
4 years ago
Jesus attacked the money lenders in the Temple at Passover. It was a highly symbolic and political act. The Romans routinely crucified rebels and Jesus had declared himself as a rebel with a capital "R". His crucifix had a little sign on it that said he was "The King of the Jews".
He was crucified by the Romans for being an insurrectionist. Standard operating procedure. The conversation with Pontius Pilate never happened. It was invented as was most of what is in the Gospels.
reply
share
Furienna (3377)
4 years ago
The conversation with Pontius Pilate never happened. It was invented as was most of what is in the Gospels.
Except, you don't really know that.
reply
share