A Gathering of Eagles

First Appearance before Pilate

From Caiaphas' Jesus was led to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. It was now early morning, and the Jews themselves stayed outside the headquarters to avoid ceremonial uncleanness, so that they would be able to eat the Passover meal.

So Pilate came out to them and asked, 'What charge do you bring against this man?'

'If he were not a criminal,' they replied, 'we should not have brought him before you. We found this man subverting our nation, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, an anointed king.'

Pilate said, 'Take him away and try him by your own law.'

The Jews answered, 'We are not allowed to put any man to death.' Thus they ensured the fulfillment of the words by which Jesus had indicated the manner of his death.

Pilate then went back into his headquarters and summoned Jesus. 'Are you the king of the Jews?' he asked.

Jesus said, 'Is that your own idea, or have others suggested it to you?'

To the charges laid against him by the chief priests and elders he made no reply.

'What! Am I a Jew?' said Pilate. 'Your own nation and their chief priests have brought you before me. What have you done? Have you nothing to say in your defense? You see how many charges they are bringing against you.'

Jesus replied, 'My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my followers would be fighting to save me from arrest by the Jews. My kingly authority comes from elsewhere.'

'You are a king, then?' said Pilate.

Jesus answered, ''King' is your word. My task is to bear witness to the truth. For this was I born; for this I came into the world, and all who are not deaf to truth listen to my voice.'

Pilate asked, 'What is truth?' With those words he went out again to the Jews. 'For my part,' he said, 'I find no case against this man.'

But they insisted, 'His teaching is causing disaffection among the people all through Judea. It started from Galilee and has spread as far as this city.'

Matthew 27:2
11-14
Mark 15:1b-5
Luke 23:1-5
John 18:28-38

Appearance before Herod Antipas

When Pilate heard this, he asked if Jesus was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus belonged to Herod Antipas' jurisdiction he remitted the case to him, for Herod Antipas was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod Antipas saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about Jesus, he hoped to see some miracle performed by him.

Herod Antipas questioned Jesus at some length without getting any reply. Meanwhile the chief priests and teachers of the law appeared and pressed the case against him vigorously. Then Herod and his troops treated Jesus with contempt and ridicule, and sent him back to Pilate dressed in an elegant robe.

That same day Herod Antipas and Pilate became friends. Before this there had been a standing feud between them.

Luke 23:6-12

Second Appearance before Pilate

Pilate now called together the chief priests, councillors, and people, and said to them, 'You brought this man before me on a charge of subversion. But, as you see, I have myself examined him in your presence and found nothing in him to support your charges. Neither has Herod Antipas, for he has referred him back to us. Clearly he has done nothing to deserve death. I therefore propose to let him off with a flogging.'

Now at the Feast it was the governor's custom to release one prisoner chosen by the people. There was then in custody a man of some notoriety, called Jesus Barabbas. This man had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.

When they were assembled, asking for the usual favor, Pilate said to them, 'Which would you like me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?' For Pilate knew that it was out of malice and envy that they had brought Jesus before him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat a message came to him from his wife: 'Have nothing to do with this innocent man, for I was much troubled on his account in my dreams last night.'

Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders had persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

Pilate asked, 'Which of the two do you wish me to release to you?'

'Barabbas,' they said.

'Then what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?' asked Pilate.

With one voice they answered, 'Crucify him!'

'Why? What harm has he done?' Pilate asked. 'I have not found him guilty of any capital offence. I will therefore let him off with a flogging.'

But they insisted on their demand, shouting all the louder, 'Crucify him!'

Pilate now took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on his head. They clothed him in a purple cloak and then time after time they came up to him, crying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they struck him in the face.

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, 'Here he is. I am bringing him out to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.'

And Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

'Behold the Man!' said Pilate.

As soon as the chief priests and their servingmen saw Jesus they shouted, 'Crucify! Crucify!'

'Take him and crucify him yourselves,' said Pilate. 'For my part I find no basis for a charge against him.'

The Jews answered, 'We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he has claimed to be Son of God.'

When Pilate heard that, he was more afraid than ever, and going back into his headquarters he asked Jesus, 'Where have you come from?'

But Jesus gave him no answer.

'Do you refuse to speak to me?' said Pilate. 'Surely you know that I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?'

'You would have no authority at all over me,' Jesus replied, 'if it had not been granted to you from above. Therefore the greater sin lies with the man who handed me over to you.'

From that moment Pilate tried hard to release Jesus, but the Jews kept shouting, 'If you let this man go, you are no friend to Caesar. Any man who claims to be a king is defying Caesar.'

When Pilate heard what they were saying, he brought Jesus out and took his seat on the tribunal at the place known as the Stone Pavement (Gabbatha in the language of the Jews.) It was the eve of Passover, about noon.

Pilate said to the Jews, 'Here is your king.'

But they shouted, 'Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!'

Shall I crucify your king?' asked Pilate.

'We have no king but Caesar,' the chief priest replied.

When Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but that instead a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in full view of the people, saying, 'My hands are clean of this man's blood. See to that yourselves.'

And with one voice the people cried, 'Let his blood be on us and on our children.'

Then at last, to satisfy them Pilate released Jesus Barabbas and handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:15-26
Mark 15:6-15
Luke 23:13-25
John 18:39-40

19:1-16

(221 pages)