"To Tiberuis Caesar, Emperor of Rome.

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       "Noble Sovereign, Greeting: The events of the last few days in my province have been of such a character that I will give the details in full as they occurred, as I should not be surprised id, in the course of time, they may change the destiny of our nation, for it seems of late that all the gods have ceased to be propitious. I am almost ready to say, Cursed be the day that I succeeded Vallerius Flaceus in the government of Judea; for since then my life has been one of continual uneasiness and distress.

 

"On my arrival at Jerusalem I took possession of the praetorium, and ordered a splendid feast to be prepared, to which I invited the tetrarch of Galilee, with the high priest and his officers. At the appointed hour noo guests appeared. This I considered an insult offered to my dignity, and to the whole government which I represent. A few days after the high priest paid me a visit. His deportment was grave and deceitful. He pretended that his religion forbade him and his attendants to sit at the table of the Romans, and eat and offer libations with them, but this was only a sanctimonious seeming, for his very countenance betrayed his hypocrisy. Although I thought it expedient to accept his excuse, from that moment I was convinced that the conquered had declared themselves the enemy of the conquerors; and I would warn the Romans to beware of the high priests of this country. They would betray their own mother to gain office and a luxurious living. It seems to me of all the conquered cities, Jerusalem is the most difficult to govern. I live in momentary dread of an insurrection and I don't have enough soldiers sufficient to suppress it. I have only one centurion and a hundred men at my command. I petitioned the prefect of Syria for reinforcements, however he informed me that he has scarcely troops sufficient to defend his own province. The insatiate thirst for conquest to extend our empire beyond the means of defending it, I fear, will be the cause of the final overthrow of our government. I have elected to live secluded from the masses, for I do not know what these priests might influence the rabble to do.

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PILATE NOTICES JESUS PREACHING AND LEAVES MANLIUS TO LISTEN

 

"Among the various rumors that come to my ears is one in particular that attracted my attention. A young man, it is said, he has appeared in Galilee preaching with a noble unction a new law in the name of the God that sent Him. At first I was apprehensive that His design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. This Jesus of Nazareth speaks rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews.

One day in passing by the place of Siloam, there was a great gathering of people, I observed in the midst of the group a young man leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. I could easily have suspected it was Him, for there was a great difference between Him and those listening to Him. His golden-colored hair and beard caused Him to have a celestial aspect., He appeared to be about thirty years of age. I have never seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What contrast between Him and His hearers, with their black beards and tawny complexions. 

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"Unwilling to interrupt Him by my presence, I continued my walk, but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. My secretary's name is Manlius. He is the grandson of the chief of the conspirators who encamped in Etruria waiting for Cataline. Manlius has been for a long time an inhabitant of Judea, and is well acquainted with the Hebrew language. He is devoted to me, and worthy of my confidence. Later on at the praetorium I met Manlius, who related to me the words Jesus had pronounced at Siloe. I have never read in the works of our philosophers anything that can compare to the maxims of Jesus as related to me by my secretary. He said one of the rebellious Jews, and there are plenty of them in Jerusalem, asked Jesus if it is lawful to give tribute to Caesar, and Jesus replied, 'Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, and unto God the things that are God's.'

 

Luke 20:19-26
(19)  And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
(20)  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
(21)  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
(22)  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
(23)  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
(24)  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
(25)  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
(26)  And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
 

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"It is on account of the wisdom of His sayings that I grant so much liberty to the Nazarene; for it is in my power to have Him arrested, and exiled to Pontus; but that would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Roman government in all its dealings with men; This man is neither seditious nor rebellious; I extended to Him my protection, unknown perhaps to Himself. Jesus is at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, and to choose disciples, unrestrained by any praetorian mandate. Should it ever happen, I say, that the religion of our forefathers will be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that rome shall owe her premature death, while I, miserable wretch, will have been the instrument of what the Jews call Providence, and we call destiny.

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"This unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provokes the Jews-not the poor, but the rich and powerful. It is true, Jesus is severe on the latter, and this is a political reason, in my opinion, for not restraining the liberty of the Nazarene. 

 

PILATE SENDS A MESSAGE TO JESUS FOR A MEETING AT THE PRAETORIUM

 

I have been receiving complaints daily made at the praetorium against the insolence of Jesus towards the rich and powerful Jewish sects called Pharisees and Sadducees by these sects. I was told that some misfortune could befall Jesus; that it would not be the first time that Jerusalem had stoned those who call themselves prophets; an appeal would be made to Caesar. Being short on forces to put down an insurrection by the Jews I resolved to adopt a measure that promises to restore the tranquillity of the city without subjecting the praetorium to humiliating concessions. I sent a messenger to Jesus requesting an interview with Him at the praetorium. He came. When the Nazarene came to the praetorium I was walking in my basilic, and my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement. The Nazarene was as calm as innocence itself. He came up to me and stopped, and by a signal sign he seemed to say to me, 'I am here,' though he spoke not a word.There was nothing repelling in its character, yet I felt too awed to approach Him.

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"Jesus, I said to Him, for the last three years I have granted you ample freedom of speech; nor do I regret it. Your words are those of a sage. I know not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know, there is in your discussions a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers. The Emperor is informed of it, and I, his humble representative in this country, am glad of having allowed you the liberty of which you are worthy. However, I must tell you that your discourses have raised up against you powerful and inveterate enemies. This is not surprising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell a victim to their hatred., Yours are doubly incensed against you on account of your discourses being so severe upon their conduct. They are even accusing me of being leagued with you for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the little civil power which Rome has left them. I am requesting, not ordering you, to be more circumspect and moderate in your discourses in the future, and more considerate of them, lest you arouse the pride of your enemies, and they raise against you the stupid populace, and compel me to employ the instruments of law.'

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"Jesus calmly replied, 'Prince of the earth, we cannot stop the torrent and make it stop in the midst of the mountain gorge: It will uproot the trees of the valley. It will answer us that it obeys the laws of nature and the creator. God alone knows where flow the waters of the torrent. I tell you before the rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just shall be spilt.'

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Not your blood, said I, with deep emotion; you are more precious in my estimation on account of your wisdom than all the turbulent and proud Pharisees who abuse the freedom granted them by Rome. The Pharisees conspire against Caesar, and convert his bounty into fear, impressing the unlearned that Caesar is a tyrant and seeks their ruin. They are insolent wretches! they are not aware that the wold of the Tiber sometimes clothes himself with the skin of the sheep to accomplish his wicked designs. I will protect you against them. My praetorium shall be an asylum, acred both day and night.'

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Jesus said with a grave and divine smile: 'When the day shall have come there will be no asylums for the son of man neither in the earth nor under the earth. Then pointing to heaven, He said, 'The asylum of the just is there. What is written in the books of the prophets must be accomplished.'

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I then told Jesus, "Young man, you will oblige me to change my request for circumspect and moderation in your discourses to an order. I must do this for the safety of the province which has been has been confided to my care. Do not infringe my order. You know the consequences. May happiness attend you; farewell.'

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HEROD CONSULTS PILATE FOR AN OPINION OF JESUS

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The enemies of Jesus soon approached Herod, who reigned over Galilee, to wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene. If Herod consulted his own inclinations, he would have ordered Jesus immediately to be put to death; but, though proud of his royal dignity, yet he hesitated to commit an act that might lessen his influence with the Senate, or, like me, was afraid of Jesus. But it would never do for a Roman officer to be scared by a Jew. Previously to this, Herod called on me at the praetorium, and on rising to take leave, after some trifling conversation, asked me what was my opinion concerning the Nazarene., I replied that Jesus appeared to me to be one of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes produce; that His doctrines are by no means sacrilegious, and that the intentions of Rome were to leave Him to that freedom of speech which was justified by His actions. Herod smiled maliciously, and saluting me with ironical respect, departed.

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Matthew 26:3-4
(3)  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
(4)  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Matthew 27:1
(1)  When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
 

 

 

 

PILATE CONTINUES HIS REPORT TO TIBERIUS CAESAR 

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The feast of the Jews was approaching, and the intention was to avail themselves of the popular exultation which always manifests itself at the solemnities of a passover. The city was overflowing with a tumultuous populace, clamoring for the death of the Nazarene. My emissaries informed me that the treasure of the temple had been employed in bribing the people. I found myself alone with a handful of veterans in the midst of a rebellious city, too weak to suppress an uprising, and having no choice left but to tolerate it. They had seized Jesus, and the seditious rabble, although they had nothing to fear from the praetorium, believing, as their leaders had told them, that I winked at their sedition. 

 

John 18:3-14
(3)  Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
(4)  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
(5)  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
(6)  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
(7)  Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
(8)  Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
(9)  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
(10)  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
(11)  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
(12)  Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
(13)  And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
(14)  Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
 

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Three powerful parties had combined together at that time against Jesus: First, the Herodians and the Sadducees, whose seditious conduct seemed to have proceeded from double motives: they hated the Nazarene and were impatient of the Roman yoke. They never forgave me for having entered the holy city with banners that vore the image of the Roman emperor; and although in this instance I had committed a fatal error, yet the sacrilege did not appear less heinous in their eyes. They also resented my proposal to employ a part of the treasure of the temple in erecting edifices for public use. The Pharisees were the avowed enemies of Jesus. They cared not for the government. They bore with bitterness the severe reprimands which the Nazarene for three years had been continually giving them wherever He went. Timid and too weak to act by themselves, they had embraced the quarrels of the Herodians and the Sadducees. Besides these three parties, I had to contend against the reckless and profligate populace, always ready to join a sedition, and to profit by the disorder and confusion that resulted therefrom.

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Jesus was dragged before the High Priest and condemned to death. It was then that the high Priest, caiaphas, performed a divisory act of submission. He sent his prisoner to me to confirm his condemnation and secure His execution.

 

Luke 23:1-2
(1)  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
(2)  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
 

 

I answered him that, as Jesus was a Galilean, the affair come under Herod's jurisdiction,and ordered him to be set there. The wily tetrarch professed humility, and protesting his deference to the lieutenant of Caesar, he committed the fate of the man to my hands. Every moment increased the number of malcontents. Soon my palace assumed the aspect of a besieged citadel. All of Judea appeared to be pouring into the city.

 

Luke 23:1-7
(1)  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
(2)  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
(3)  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
(4)  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
(5)  And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
(6)  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.
(7)  And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

 

My wife is from among the Gauls, who pretend to see the future. Weeping and throwing herself at my feet she said to me: "Beware, beware, and touch not that man; for He is holy. Last night I saw Him in a vision. He was walking on the waters; He was flying on the wings of the wind. He spoke to the tempest and the fishes of the lake; all were obedient to Him. Behold, the torrent in Mount Kedron flows with blood, the statues of Caesar are filled with gemonide; the columns of the interim have given away, and the sun is veiled in mourning like a vestal in the tomb. Pilate, evil awaits you. If you will not listen to the vows of your wife, dread the curse of a Roman Senate; dread the frowns of Caesar.

 

Matthew 27:19
(19)  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

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By this time the marble stair groaned under the weight of the multitude. The Nazarene was brought back to me. I proceeded to the halls of justice, followed by my guard, and asked the people in a severe tone what they demanded.

"The death of the Nazarene, was the reply.

For what crime?

He has blasphemed; he has prophesied the ruin of the temple; He calls Himself the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of the Jews.

Roman justice, said I, punishes not such offences with death. Crucify Him, Crucify Him! cried the relentless rabble. The vociferations of the infuriated mob shook the palace to its foundations. 

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There was but one who appeared to be calm in the midst of the vast multitude; it was the Nazarene. After many failed attempts to protect Him from the fury of His merciless persecutors, I adopted a measure which at the moment appeared to me to be the only one that could save His life. I proposed to use their own custom, on such occasions, to deliver a prisoner and to release Jesus free, that He might be the scapegoat, as they called it; but they said Jesus must be crucified. 

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Mark 15:9-15
(9)  But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
(10)  For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
(11)  But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
(12)  And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
(13)  And they cried out again, Crucify him.
(14)  Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
(15)  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

I then ordered Jesus to be scourged, hoping this might satisfy them; but it only increased their fury. I then called for a basin, and washed my hands in the presence of the clamorous multitude, thus testifying that in my judgment Jesus of Nazareth had done nothing deserving of death; but in vain. It was His life the wretches thirsted for.

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Matthew 27:24-26
(24)  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
(25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
(26)  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

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Often in our civil commotions have I witnessed the furious anger of the multitude, but nothing could be compared to what I witnessed on this occasion. It might have been truly said that all the phantoms of the infernal regions had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not to walk, but to be borne off and whirled as a vortex, rolling along in living waves from the portals of the praetorium even unto Mount Zion, with howling screams, shrieks, and vociferations such as were never heard in the seditions of the Pannonia, or in the tumults of the forum. I, the continued governor of a rebellious province, was leaning against a column of my basilic, contemplating athwart the deary gloom these fiends of Tartarus dragging to execution the innocent Nazarene. All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited forth her dwellers through the funeral gate that leads to Gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry, and the centurion, with a display of power, was endeavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my breaking heart admonished me that what was passing at that moment appertained rather to the history of the gods than that of men. A loud clamor was heard proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, seemed to announce an agony such as was never heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the pinnacle of the temple, and setting over the city covered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that men saw both the heavens and on the earth that Dionysius the Areopagite is reported to have exclaimed, 'Either the author of nature is suffering or the universe is falling apart.' 

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While these appalling scenes of nature were transpiring, there was a dreadful earth quake in lower Egypt, which filled everybody with fear, and scared the superstitious Jews almost to death. It is said Balthasar, an aged and learned Jew of Antioch, was found dead after the excitement was over. Whether he died from alarm or grief is not known. He was a strong friend of the Nazarene.

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Near the first hour of the night I threw my mantle around me, and went down into the city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was consummated. The crowd was returning home, still agitated, it is true, but gloomy, taciturn, and desperate. What they had witnessed had strichen them with terror and remorse. I also saw my little Roman cohort pass by mournfully, the standard-bearer having veiled his eagle in token of grief; and I overheard some Jewish soldiers murmuring strange words which I did not understand. Others were recounting miracles very like those which have so often smitten the Romans by the will of the gods. Sometimes groups of men and women would halt, the, looking back toward Mount Calvary, would remain motionless in expectation of witnessing some new prodigy. 

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I returned to the praetorium, sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs, the steps of which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene, I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and behind him several Romans in tears. He threw himself at my feet and wept bitterly. It is painful to see an old man weep, and my heart being already overcharged with grief, we, though strangers, wept together. And in truth it seemed that the tears lay very shallow that day with many whom I perceived in the vast concourse of people. I never witnessed such an extreme revulsion of feeling. Those who betrayed and sold Him, those who testified against Him, those who cried, "Crucify Him, we have His blood," all slunk off like cowardly curs, and washed their teeth with vinegar. 

Matthew 27:25
(25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

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"Father," said I to him, after gaining control of my feelings, "who are you, and what is your request?" "I am Joseph of Arimathea," replied he, " and am come to beg of you upon my knees the permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth." 

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Matthew 27:57-60
(57)  When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
(58)  He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
(59)  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
(60)  And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
 

Your prayer is granted, said I to him; and at the same time I ordered Manlius to take some soldiers with him to superintend the interment, lest it should be profaned. 

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A few days after the sepulchre was found empty, His disciples proclaimed all over the country that Jesus had risen from the dead, as He had foretold. This created more excitement even than the crucifixion. As to its truth I cannot say for certain, but I have made some investigation of the matter; so you can examine for yourself, and see if I am in fault, as Herod represents.

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Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb. Whether he contemplated His resurrection or calculated to cut him another, I cannot tell. The day after He was buried one of the priests came to the praetorium and said they were apprehensive that Jesus disciples intended to steal the body of Jesus and hide it, and then make it appear that He had risen from the dead, as He had foretold, and of which they were perfectly convinced. I sent him to the captain of the royal guard (Malcus) to tell him to take the Jewish soldiers, place as many around the sepulchre as were needed; then if anything should happen they could blame themselves, and not the Romans.

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Matthew 27:62-66
(62)  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
(63)  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
(64)  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
(65)  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
(66)  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
 

When the great excitement arose about the sepulchre being found empty, I felt a deeper solicitude than ever. I sent for Malcus, who told me he had placed his lieutenant, Ben Isham, with one hundred soldiers, around the sepulchre. He told me that Isham and the soldiers were very much alarmed at what had occurred there that morning. I sent for this man Isham, who related to me, as near as I can recollect, the following circumstances: He said that at about the beginning of the fourth watch they saw a soft and beautiful light over the sepulchre. He at first thought that the women had come to embalm the body of Jesus, as was their custom, but he could not see how they could have gotten through the guards. While these thoughts were passing through his mind, behold, the whole place was lighted up, and there seemed to be crowds of the dead in their grave-clothes. All seemed to be shouting and filled with ecstasy, while all around and above was the most beautiful music he had ever heard; and the whole air seemed to be full of voices praising God. At this time there seemed to be a reeling and swimming of the earth, so that he turned so sick and faint that he could not stand on his feet. He said the earth seemed to swim from under him, and his senses left him, so that he kneo not what did occur. I asked him in what condition he was when he came to himself. He said he was lying on the ground with his face down. I asked him if he could not have been mistaken as to the light. Was it not day that was coming in the East? He said at first he thought of that, but at a stone's cast it was exceedingly dark; and then he remembered it was too early for day. I asked him if his dizziness might not have come from being wakened up and getting up too suddenly as it sometimes had that effect. He said he was not, and had not been asleep all night, as the penalty was death for him to sleep on duty. He said he had let some of the soldiers sleep at a time. Some were asleep then. I asked him how long the scene lasted. He said he did not know, but thought nearly an hour. He said it was hid by the light of day. I asked him if he went to the sepulchre after he had come to himself. He said no, because he was afraid; that just as soon as relief came they all went to their quarters. I asked if he had been questioned by the priests. He said he had. They wanted him to say it was an earthquake, and that they were asleep, and offered him money to say that the disciples came and stole Jesus; but he saw no disciples; he did not know that the body was gone until he was told. I asked him what was the private opinion of those priests he had conversed with. He said that some of them thought that Jesus was no man; that he was not a human being; that he was not the son of Mary; that he was not the same that was said to be born of the virgin in Bethlehem; that the same persons had been on earth before with Abraham and Lot, and at many times and places.

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It seems to me that, if the Jewish theory be true, these conclusions are  correct, for they are in accord with this man's life, as is known and testified by both friends and foes, for the elements were no more in his hands than the clay in the hands of the potter. He could convert water into wine; he could change death into life, disease into health; he could calm the seas, still the storms, call up fish with a silver coin in its mouth. Now, I say, if he could do all these things, which he did, and many more, as the Jews all testify, and it was doing these things that crated this enmity against Him---He was not charged with criminal offenses, nor was He charged with violating any law, nor of wronging any individual in person, and all these facts are known to thousands, as well by His foes as by His friends--I  am almost ready to say, as did Manlius at the cross, "Truly this was the Son of God."

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Matthew 27:54
(54)  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
 

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Now, noble Sovereign, this is as near the facts in the case as I can arrive at, and I have taken pains to make the statement very full, so that you may judge of my conduct upon the whole, as I hear that  Herod Antipater has said many hard things of me in this matter. With the promise of faithfulness and good wishes to my noble Sovereign,

"I am your most obedient servant,"

                                                               Pontius Pilate

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