BACKGROUND

Marcus Pontius Pilate (20 BC – 39 AD) was appointed Prefect (Praefectus) of Judea in 26AD by Lucius Aelius Sejanus (20 BC – 31 AD), a friend of Emperor Tiberius Caesar Augustus (42 BC – 37 AD) at the time. Tiberius began his reign as Emperor in 14 AD. Tiberius made Sejanus Prefect of the Praetorian Guard after the death of his own son, Drusus Julius Caesar (14 BC – 23 AD), who had been next in line. Tiberius gradually conceded administrative authority to Sejanus over time. That authority included administrative appointments, among which is the appointment of Pilate as Prefect of Judea. That same year (26 AD), Tiberius retired to Capri, leaving Sejanus in administrative control of the empire. Sejanus became implicated in the death of Drusus. Sejanus attempted to marry into the family of Tiberius to position himself as a successor but failed. Tiberius became aware of these conspiracies and had Sejanus and his associates killed (31 AD). The appointments of Sejanus became suspect as well, including his appointment of Pontius Pilate. Pilate had become vulnerable.

 

Providing some protection for Pilate was Senator Lucius Aelius Lamia (43 BC–AD 33). At the time of Sejanus’ death, Senator Lamia was 74 years old. He held prominent positions under Emperor Caesar Augustus, which continued under his stepson and successor, Tiberius. He served as Legion Commander (4-6 AD & 10-11 AD) under Tiberius when Tiberius was Governor of Germania. Early in his reign as Emperor, Tiberius made Senator Lamia Proconsul of Africa (14-17 AD) and then Governor of Pannonia, where Pilate could have been stationed during his military career. In 22 AD, Senator Lamia, then age 65, was appointed Imperial Legate of Syria. Despite this appointment, Senator Lamia remained in Rome, never traveling to Syria, and accepted Pilate’s appointment as Prefect four years later. Pilate reported to Senator Lamia from afar. Senator Lamia died the same year as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (33 AD). Senator Lamia was replaced as Legate by a friend of Tiberius, Lucius Vitellius, who held the same reservations as his Emperor regarding Pilate.

 

Many within the Jewish community at the time were in the diaspora. The largest contingent of Jewish observers outside of Judea resided in Rome with rights of full Roman citizenship. As evidenced by the Apostle Paul, there was no reluctance on the part of Jewish citizens to exercise those rights. Active communication across the Mediterranean diaspora can be presumed. Judean displeasure with Pilate’s lack of sensitivity to the Temple culture was likely not kept secret in Jerusalem during the ten years of Pilate’s service in Judea. Because of this active exchange, the leadership in Jerusalem was aware of Pilate’s growing vulnerability. The Temple’s awareness is marked by a letter sent by Jewish officials to Tiberius in 31 AD, around the time of Sejanus’s death, complaining about their treatment under Pilate. This letter resulted in an imperial reproach of Pilate by the Emperor, no longer protected by Sejanus, weakly protected by Lamia, and then even more weakly protected by Vitellius. Pilate was sent back to Rome in 37 AD by Vitellius to answer charges brought by the Samarians in Judea, the same year that Tiberius died. Tiberius was replaced by Emperor Caligula. Pilate lost his position as Prefect of Judea to a friend of Vitellius, Marcellus.

 

It is believed that Jesus Christ died on Friday, April 3rd, 33 AD, at about 3:00 PM in the afternoon. The Sabbath and the Passover feast occurred on the same day that year and began at sundown the evening of the crucifixion, concluding at sundown the following day. When the burial tomb was found empty on the morning of Sunday, April 5th, the Passover Sabbath had been over for several hours. Pontius Pilate had presided over the arrest, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ and had some responsibility for the missing body because his guards had custody of the tomb. Pilate was closely aligned with the Chief Priest Joseph ben Caiaphas (14 BC – 46 AD). He had the authority to appoint the Temple Chief Priest and chose to retain Caiaphas in that role upon his commission as Prefect. Caiaphas arranged for the Temple treasury to fund the Roman construction of a viaduct into Jerusalem to the objection of many observers of the Law who felt that the Temple Authority had been corrupted. Pilate likely tracked Jesus over the years through his tax agents and other informants. When Pilate showed reluctance to order the crucifixion of Jesus, the charge -- “if you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar” – speaks further to the Temple’s awareness of his growing political weakness and the value of an unfriendly accusation sent to Rome. “Letting the man go” was not an option for Pilate. After Pilate lost his position in Judea, Caiaphas was replaced by a new High Priest, Jonathan ben Ananus. The Temple Authority had political reach directly into imperial Rome and, with the changes in reporting structure, an increasing measure of political leverage over Pilate.

 

What follows in the play is a story of events that may have happened then and may still be happening now.