The Letters of Pilate Overview

THE LETTER OF PILATE TO CLAUDIUS

• Date: 150-200

• Claimed Author: Pilate

• Original Language: Greek

• This translation is from the Latin A manuscript for Christ’s Descent into Hell, but the text is also found in the following:

  • Pseudo-Marcellus

  • The Passion of Peter and Paul 19

  • The Acts of Peter and Paul 40-42, where the context makes it clear that the letter is addressed to Claudius instead of Tiberius

• This could be the oldest Pilate text

pg. 206 & https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/reportpilate.html

Pilate retells all that Jesus did and how the Jews still lied about him and had Pilate believe them so that he would hand him over to be put to death. Pilate then says that the Jews paid his soldiers money to say that they would say that his disciples stole his body, but that after they received the money, they couldn’t keep silent and testified. Pilate reports this in case anyone might believe in the lies of the Jews. Pilate and the soldiers testify and provide evidence that Jesus died and rose again.

THE LETTER OF PILATE TO TIBERIUS

pgs. 207-208 & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0810.htm

Pilate says that he didn’t want to punish Jesus, but had to go with the mob. Pilate shows that he didn’t ever actually want to crucify Jesus, but that his hand was forced.

Pilate says that the Jewish leaders wanted to crucify Jesus, despite the prophets - especially the Sibyls - warning against it. The prophets warn against Jesus’ crucifixion instead of prophecying about it happening. This refers to an Old Testament pseudepigraphon famous in the early church, the Sibylline Oracles, as part of the prophets.