The Redemption of Pontius Pilate
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He lived twenty-nine years and ruled three years, ten months and eight days. His body was conveyed secretly to the gardens of the Lamian family, where it was partly consumed on a hastily erected pyre and buried beneath a light covering of turf; later his sisters on their return from exile dug it up, cremated it, and consigned it to the tomb. Before this was done, it is well known that the caretakers of the gardens were disturbed by ghosts, and that in the house where he was slain not a night passed without some fearsome apparition, until at last the house itself was destroyed by fire. With him died his wife Caesonia, stabbed with a sword by a centurion, while his daughter’s brains were dashed out against a wall.
As for Pilate’s wife and child, the only clue to their later life is found in the text of the Third Epistle of Saint John:
The Elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray in all respects that you might prosper and be in good health, as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, that you were walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in truth.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS
LUCIUS PONTIUS PILATE—Roman soldier and statesman, protagonist
JULIUS TIBERIUS CAESAR—Roman general and second Emperor of Rome
GAIUS OCTAVIUS JULIUS CAESAR AUGUSTUS—First True Emperor of Rome
ARMINIUS—Tribal leader from Germania; defeated Roman General Varus and took his Legions’ eagle standards
CAIAPHAS—Jewish high priest, ordered the arrest of Jesus of Nazareth
ANNAS—Father-in-law of Caiaphas, former High Priest, powerful Jewish political leader
HEROD ANTIPAS—Son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee, honorary “King of the Jews”
PROCULA PORCIA—Wife of Pontius Pilate
GNAEUS POMPEIIUS MAGNUS—AKA “Pompey the Great,” Roman general, consul, and statesman; political enemy of Julius Caesar
MARCUS ANTONIUS—also “Marc Antony,” cousin and would-be successor of Julius Caesar, defeated by Octavian in 31 BC; committed suicide
GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR—aka “Divus Julius”; Roman general, statesman, and dictator, adoptive father of Augustus, “the greatest Roman of them all”
CLEOPATRA—Last of the Ptolemies to rule Egypt; lover of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony; committed suicide following their defeat in 31 BC
MARCUS AGRIPPA—Roman General and statesman; right-hand man and closest friend of Caesar Augustus; married to Julia, the daughter of Augustus
QUINCTILIUS VARUS—Roman general, defeated and killed by the Cheruscii in Germania; lost all three of his legions
GAIUS MARIUS—Seven-time Consul of Rome, uncle of Julius Caesar, famous reformer and leader of the Roman army
GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR GERMANICUS—Nephew of Tiberius, brilliant general, potential rival for the Imperial throne
LIVIA DRUSILLA JULIA AUGUSTA—Mother of Tiberius and wife of Caesar Augustus
JULIA CAESARUS FILIA—Daughter of Caesar Augustus and widow of Marcus Agrippa; married to Tiberius after her husband’s death
AELIUS LAMIA—Roman legate and Proconsul of Syria; Pilate’s nominal superior
CLAUDIUS CAESAR GERMANICUS—Stuttering younger brother of Germanicus, later Emperor of Rome
GNAEUS CALPURNIUS PISO—Governor of Syria, accused murderer of Germanicus
GAIUS CAESAR GERMANICUS—Germanicus’ son, Tiberius’ successor as Emperor of Rome
LUCIUS AELIUS SEJANUS—Commander of the Praetorian Guard and confidant of Tiberius; ruled Rome while the Emperor was on Capri
DRUSUS JULIUS CAESAR—Natural son of Tiberius and his first wife Vipsania, poisoned by his own wife Livilla in 23 AD
LIVILLA JULIA—Sister of Claudius and Germanicus, wife of Tiberius’ son Drusus, and his alleged murderess
QUINTUS SUTORIUS MACRO—Second in command of the Praetorians under Sejanus, later commanded the Praetorians after supplanting him
VALERIUS GRATUS—Governor of Judea before Pilate
JAMES OF GALILEE—Carpenter, half-brother of Jesus, later emerges as church leader
JOSEPH CAIAPHAS—Jewish priest who led protests against Pilate; later emerges as High Priest and leads the conspiracy against Jesus
LUCIUS VITELLIUS—Governor of Syria in 36-40 AD, Pilate’s superior
FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
DEMOCLES—Pilate’s Greek slave during his time as governor of Judea
DECIMUS PONTIUS PILATE—Roman senator and businessman, father of Lucius Pontius Pilate
FLAVIUS SIXTUS—Veteran Roman general, Pilate’s commander
SEXTUS DIVIDICUS—First Spear Centurion of Pilate’s Legion in Germany
SOSTHENES—Greek slave badly beaten by Pilate in Germania
DECIMUS TULLIUS—Roman legate who succeeded Pilate in command of his legion
GAIUS PROCULUS PORCIUS—Pilate’s longtime friend and father-in-law
MARCIA PROCULUS SCRIBONIA—Wife of Proculus, Pilate’s mother-in-law
CORNELIUS SEPTIMUS PILATE—Brother of Pontius Pilate, military officer
CORNELIA CLAUDIA PILATE—Pilate’s sister, died in childbirth
PONTIA PILATE APPIUS—Pilate’s sister, married to Appius Claudius Sempronius
MENCIUS MARCELLUS—Chief steward of the Villa Jovis, Tiberius’ palace on Capri
QUINTUS SULLEMIUS—Smuggler, ship’s captain, and Pilate’s lackey
PORCIA MINOR—Pilate’s daughter
LINTUS ANTONINUS—Roman proconsul, Pilate’s successor as Governor of Spain
ARISTION—Pilate’s household steward
DIOMYRUS—Captain of the ship that took Pilate to Judea
BRUTUS APPIUS—Roman legionary known for his strength; promoted to centurion by Pilate
CASSIUS LONGINUS—Senior centurion of Rome’s Judean Legion, later known as Brother Gideon
TITUS AMBROSIUS—Centurion of the Judean Legion
MARCUS QUIRINIUS—Centurion of the Judean Legion
LUCIUS ANDRONICUS, MARCUS PULLO, and METELLIUS MACRO—more Centurions of the Judean Legion (Pullo later killed by Zealots)
SIMON BIN-YOSEF—Galilean peasant, led the protest against the Jerusalem aqueduct
BRUTUS VALENTIUS—Legionary promoted to Centurion after the death of Pullo
CORNELIUS—Legionary who went to hear John the Baptist, later converted by Peter’s preaching
STYCHIUS—Longinus’ chief slave, later healed by Jesus
SCARSUS—Numidian scout employed by the Romans to track Zealots
SILAS HIRTIUS—Gallic cavalryman in the Judean legion
ARISTARCHUS—Physician of the Judean legion
MILO LAMMIUS—retired Roman legionary murdered by Bar Abbas
LUCIUS SCRIBONIUS—Roman legionary of the Judean legion
MARCUS BALBUS PHILLIPUS—Pilate’s junior legate after 33 AD
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
42 BC—Future Emperor Tiberius Caesar is born
31 BC—Caesar Octavian Augustus becomes Emperor of Rome
16 BC - Lucius Pontius Pilate is
1 BC—Young Pilate is assigned to Tiberius as junior lieutenant
9 AD—Quintcilius Varus and three Roman legions killed by the Cherusci
10 AD—Pilate joins Tiberius on punitive expedition to Germania
11 AD—Pilate wins the Civic Crown for valor defending his camp
12 AD—Pilate returns to Rome with Tiberius, becomes Tribune of the Plebs, and marries 18-year-old Procula Porcia
14 AD—Death of Augustus, Tiberius becomes Emperor
19 AD—Death of Germanicus, Pilate deals with Calpurnius Piso
20 AD—Pilate elected as Consul of Rome
21-24 AD—Pilate serves as Governor of Further Spain
23 AD—Death of Drusus Julius Caesar
24 AD—Pilate returns to Rome; Tiberius proposes a marriage alliance
26 AD—Tiberius takes up permanent residence on Capri; Pilate sent to Judea as govern
or; death of Porcia
27 AD—Pilate serves as governor; stirs controversy over funding for a new aqueduct; Sejanus’ reign of terror in Rome continues
28 AD—Pilate’s son Decimus is born; Pilate begins constructing Jerusalem aqueduct
29 AD—Pilate orders dispersal of aqueduct protestors; John the Baptist begins preaching
30 AD—John’s ministry at its height; Jesus begins preaching in Galilee
31 AD—Bar Abbas becomes a nuisance to Rome; John the Baptist killed by Herod, Jesus’ public ministry gains a huge following
32 AD—Pilate wounded by Zealots; his slow recovery fills the summer
33 AD—Bar Abbas captured; Jesus crucified, Day of Pentecost
34 AD—John heals Pilate’s son; Herod begins persecuting the church, Stephen martyred
35 AD—Porcia becomes a follower of Jesus
37 AD—Pilate orders an attack on the Samaritan followers of Moses ben Judah, then recalled to Rome; Tiberius dies, Caligula becomes Emperor, and Pilate and his family become fugitives
38 AD—Lucius Pontius Pilate redeems himself
GLOSSARY OF LATIN TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK
Absolvo: A verdict of “Not Guilty” declared by a Roman judge or jury
Amuensis: A scribe or secretary who penned letters dictated by another
Arctoritas: the circle of influence and prestige enjoyed by a member of the Roman aristocracy – it was measured by the number of clients one had, the respect one commanded from his peers, and one’s public reputation
Armillae: A golden armband awarded to legionaries who slew an enemy in hand to hand combat
Ave: “Greetings!” – a common Latin salutation, “Hello” in English
Cacat: Latin slang for human feces; sometimes also used as an expletive
Calvarium: the skull
Centurion: A noncommissioned officer in a Roman legion who commanded 100 legionaries and around 20 auxiliaries
Condemno: A verdict of “Guilty” from a Roman court or magistrate
Consul: The Chief executives of the Roman Republic; two in number, they were elected by the citizens of Rome and served a one year term. Under the Emperors, the office held less power, but still carried great prestige.
Conterburnalis: A junior officer in the Roman military, equivalent to an ensign or field cadet.
Corona Civitas: the Civic Crown, Rome’s second highest military decoration. It was awarded to any soldier who saved the life of a comrade, held his ground throughout the battle, and personally killed at least one of the enemy.
Corona Granicus: Rome’s highest decoration, a simple crown woven from the grass of the battlefield where it was won. This award was given to any soldier who single-handedly saved an entire legion from destruction.
Culus: slang term for the anus
Curia Julia: the Court of Julia, a public building erected by Gaius Julius Caesar in honor of his daughter Julia, which became the customary meeting place of the Roman Senate in Augustus’ time
Cursus Honorum: The “ladder of honors” – the succession of offices that a successful Roman was expected to occupy on his way to the highest elected position, that of Consul.
Denarius: a common Roman coin, made of silver, which represented one day’s wage for an average laborer.
Divus Julius: the “Divine Julius” – the title granted to Gaius Julius Caesar after his death and deification
Ecastor: “By Castor!” – a mild expletive used by Roman men and women in polite conversation to express dismay or disbelief
Edepol: “By Pollux!” a companion expletive used more often by Roman men than women
Fortuna: the Roman Goddess of Luck, believed to favor certain individuals
Gens humana: the human race; mankind
Gladius: A Roman shortsword. The blade was double edged, and typically 16 to 18 inches in length
Hubris: (actually Greek rather than Latin) a pride so great that it offends the gods
Imperator: lit. “conqueror,” this was the designation normally given to any Roman commander who vanquished an enemy army on the field. Later, it became the title of Rome’s rulers, and passed into English as the word “Emperor”
Imperium: The right to command; conferred by the Senate and People of Rome, or later by the Emperor. There were different levels of imperium, according to one’s rank.
Legate (also Legatus): The commander of a Roman Army, while a Junior Legate commanded individual legions within the Army.
Lictors: The honor guards assigned to Roman officials - the greater the number of lictors, the higher the rank. The senior lictor would carry the fasces which represented the official’s imperium
Ludus Magnus: Rome’s largest gladiator training facility
Mare Nostrum: “Our Sea,” the Romans’ nickname for the Mediterranean
Mos Maorum: The traditions of the Roman Republic, the way things had always been done, similar to the Biblical “traditions of our elders.”
Paterfamilias: “Head of the Family;” the formal position of the father in a Roman home. As head, he literally had the power of life and death over family members.
Pax Romana: The “Peace of Rome,” begun during the reign of Augustus, which would last for nearly 200 years without large-scale wars
Phalerae: a disc worn on the breastplate; could be gold, silver, or bronze according to the valor of the act it was awarded for
Pilae (pilus singular): the standard spear used by Roman legionaries, about five feet in length, with a forged iron head. They were designed to be thrown, although they could also be useful in short-range combat as a thrusting lance
Plebeian: The historically “common” classes of the Roman Republic, although by Pilate’s time plebs were eligible to hold any political office, and comprised more than half the membership of the Senate.
Podex: The part of the anatomy one sits on; the buttocks
Pomerium: The sacred boundary of the city of Rome. By tradition, no military commander could cross it without laying down his imperium.
Praetor: A local magistrate, elected by the citizens of Rome. The Urban Praetors were in charge of maintaining the city of Rome’s infrastructure, including roads, aqueducts, and sewers, as well as public buildings.
Praetorian Guard: The personal bodyguards of the Emperor of Rome
Prefect: A Roman official who was appointed by the Senate or Emperor rather than elected; there were both military and civilian prefects
Primus Pilus (also Primipilus): Lit. “First Spear,” the highest ranking centurion in a legion of Roman soldiers.
Princeps: One of the Emperor’s official titles, loosely translated to “First Citizen”
Princeps Senatus: The senior member and leader of the Roman Senate
Proconsul: A Roman governor who has held the rank of Consul before being sent to his province
Publicani: also called tax farmers, they were usually local residents who contracted to collect taxes from the native population. Called “Publicans” in the New Testament, they were universally despised.
Quaestor: an elected magistrate of the Roman Republic, whose members automatically qualified for a seat in the Senate.
Retarius: A gladiator who fought with a net and a trident as his weapons
Rudis: a wooden sword used for training purposes
Sagum: A leather cloak worn by soldiers on campaign; it was oiled to keep it supple and waterproof
Secutor: A gladiator who fought with the sword and shield
Spartacanii: The army of slaves that followed Spartacus in his rebellion against Rome in 70 BC
Stadia: a unit of measurement, approximately 600 feet
Stibium: Makeup favored by prostitutes and older women in the East; believed to have been invented in Egypt
Tata: childish name for one’s father, equivalent to “Daddy”
Tetrarch: One who governs one fifth of a kingdom – a title given to Herod the Great’s sons after their father’s kingdom was split between them
/> Torcs: a golden necklet awarded for valor in combat
Tribune: An elected official who represents the interests of the electorate. Military Tribunes acted as liaisons between the soldiers and their commander; Tribune of the Plebs was a very important political office that automatically enrolled its members in the Senate. Historically, Tribunes of the Plebs could introduce legislation and veto any proposal from the Consuls or the Senate. Although their powers were reduced under the Principate, the office still carried great honor and was highly sought after.
Vestal Virgins: these were the ten priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of hearth and home, bound for the duration of their office to remain pure. They were usually pledged to Vesta at age 8 and released from their vows at the age of 35.
About the Author
LEWIS BEN SMITH is a pastor, a Christian school teacher, an avid collector of Indian Artifacts, a third degree black belt, a computer game junkie, and the father of twin daughters. He has a Master’s Degree in history and has studied the early history of Christianity for many years. With so much spare time on his hands, he decided to start writing novels.