Paradosis Pilati Overview

• Sect: Coptic

pgs. 209-211 & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0811.htm

Caesar finds out that because Pilate had let Jesus be crucified, there was an earthquake and darkness in the whole world. He is filled with anger and goes to ask Pilate how he would dare execute a righteous person who had done great signs. He asks why he did it, and Pilate says that he only did it because of the reckless, guilty Jews who pressured him. Caesar says that he should have kept him safe instead because Jesus’ signs clearly showed that he was the Christ. As Caesar says that Jesus was the Christ, all the gods fall down and become dus,t and everyone there becomes afraid. The power of Jesus’ name is shown even as he is dead in that all the gods fall down and shatter at Caesar’s proclamation that he is king.

Caesar continues to question Pilate, and Pilate says that what people said about Jesus is greater than all Pilate’s gods is true. Caesar is also angry learns that the Jews who had forced Jesus to be crucified live in Jerusalem and decrees a speedy decree that they are scattered, enslaved among the nations, and made “so insignificant that [they] may no longer be seen anywhere, since they are full of evil”. Here, we likely see the author’s actual sentiments about Jews showing through the text in Caesar’s anti-semitic decree to demolish them.

Caesar says that Pilate should die for executing a righteous person. As Pilate comes to the place to be executed, he prays that he is not destroyed “with the wicked Hebrews” nor that his wife Procla is destroyed because she prophesied that Jesus would be nailed to the cross. He asks that they be numbered with the saints. When Pilate finishes his prayer, a voice comes from heaven saying that all generations shall call Pilate blessed, “because in your governorship everything was fulfilled which the prophets foretold about me.” God then proclaims that he will send Pilate at his second coming to judge the 12 tribes of Israel. As his head is cut off, an angel of the Lord receives it, and Patrocla sees the angel receive it and is filled with joy, immediately giving up her ghost. Even when Pilate killed Jesus, it was to fulfill God’s plan to bring restoration to all people, so it is almost good in a sense (even though the same is not true of Judas). It is revealed that at least Pilate [kind of] repented, but that the Hebrews are wicked, so that Pilate is shown as not having as much culpability for Jesus’ death. Pilate repents and is saved; God even says he will send him to judge the Hebrews who don’t believe in the end. Patrocla’s dream is interpreted to be a prophecy, not just warning her not to deal with Jesus, but showing that he would be crucified (which also seems to justify Pilate’s crucifying him anyway).