. She indeed must have had an emotional meltdown to have done what she did, when she did it. . Verily, I say to you, He continued with emotion, as soon as the roses of Sharon come into flower, the blood of the Righteous will be shed. Once Herod came to me in the Praetorian Office; and when, after some unimportant conversation, he rose to take leave, he asked me what I thought of Jesus of Nazareth. Click here for a printable copy of our Sabbath School Lessons for the 1st half of the year 2023: Lessons on the Day of the Lord. I thought it advisable to accept this excuse, but at the same time I become conscious of a submissiveness expressed towards victors, and it showed me clearly that of all conquered towns only Jerusalem was difficult to administrate. For some time I remained rooted to the spot, and with veneration and fear I glanced at the figure of this supernatural man, whose form was unknown to the majority of our artists who have worked out the form and figure of so many gods. Recorded only in the Gospel of St. Matthew is the story of Pontius Pilates wife, who had a dream concerning Jesus, leading her to demand that her husband have nothing to do with that righteous man (Mt 27:19). I leaned out of the opening and saw the traces of spilt blood. whose eyes amed with anger. The latter was lovely and beautiful, like the dawn over Sharon, and had fair curls. So Judas, Pilate, and with especially severity Jerusalem, have all received their punishment. How rightly shouted the Nazarene on the cross: It is fulfilled! These are the contents of my report! roared the unhappy and mad people who swarmed round Jesus. While Jesus is hanging on the cross, at about the ninth hour, Sayers includes a scene in which Pilate asks Claudia to describe the dream that troubled her so. The Jews allegation that Jesus taught the people not to pay taxes to the Emperor has been proved unjustified by Pilates report. So that this great injustice could be done, and yesterdays uproar pass unsubdued, the detachment of soldiers came only today. Amazingly, it appears Pilate took into consideration what she instructed as he washes his hands of the whole affair, declaring they are crucifying an innocent man. He started by proving that the court, at the time, when Jesus was judge, tried to proceed lawfully, for at the period mentioned nobody, except His disciples, could see in Christ the Son of God He was a conspirator, who gathered people round Him to inuence them against the authorities, and who preached a non-existing religion, and as such he was a danger to the community. I asked. It seems like a bad omen to both of them, that Pilates name is so connected with this one judgment, remembered through the ages (in King of Sorrows). WebJust think Claudia Procula was the first one we know of who was unequally yoked. Dear and beloved reader, have you ever thought that you might be one of those on the path leading to Christ-the path of Golgotha? The hall was in deep silence when he turned to the audience. According to Flavius Josephus, Pilates supporter, Sejanus, was murdered later. I did not want to disturb Him by my presence, so I contained on my way. to deal with the Nazarene. She is celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church on Moreover, He had preached such a religion as would lead to salvation, but which the human egoism of His time refused to accept. They crucified him. SOME DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE LAST EVENTS IN CHRIST LIFE, EXTRACTED FROM HISTORICAL CHRONICLES. She appears to have one small walk onto the worlds stage and that is to announce Jesus is innocent, which she fulfilled against all odds. But is it possible that truth and right are dependent upon the consent of the people? nite expression of hope, which I could not understand. Pilate owed his appointment to the influence of Sejanus. Salome and Semida looked at me with fear, for they saw in me always the wife of the persecutor and hunter of their Lord. His peacefulness struck me with terror, for in my ears still sounded the words I had heard in my dream: Give me back My blood which I have spilt for you. 27:65-66). It appears that Pilate attempted to avoid a direct conflict with the Jewish leaders by hoping that King Herod might release Jesus (Luke 23:7-11). Jesus answered him: Render to Caesar that which is Caesars and unto God that which is Gods. Owing to this wisdom, I left the Nazarene free, for I could have arrested Him and sent Him to you, but this would have been against the law, the observance if which has distinguished the Roman. I restored to another measure, by which, as it seemed to me, I might have been able to save His life. Pilate could not sufficiently defend himself and was consequently imprisoned in Gali about 37 A.D. From there he was sent to Vienna, where, owing to his humiliation and remorse, he committed suicide. He spoke to the storm and to the fish in the sea; and all listened to Him. This took courage on her part to claim Him innocent in the face of so much hostility and anger. There is a reason why this one verse is in the Bible concerning her that only God knows. Many Jews believe Him to be God, others denounce Him as acting against Your Majestys laws. Instantaneously my palace took the appearance of a besieged town. 28:1-6). . Beginning in the late fourth, or early fifth century, she is known as Claudia Procula. This blog only shows fiftenarticles per page, and youll need to scroll back to see all posts. This cunning tetrarch, with pretended submissiveness, declared that, out of respect towards me, he placed the fate of this man in my hands, and this he let me know through the Caesarian soldiers. This hatred is increasing every day, and their only thought is how to bring Him to death. The gospel of Nicodemus (probably written around the 4th century AD), identifies her as Claudia Procula, and a granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus. Semida rose from her bed, as if supported by an invisible hand. Pontius Pilate would not free Christ, because he was afraid of the Jews, After her husbands death, Claudia Pilate was married to Claudia Procula. After these words, like a bright cloud, He went away behind the Praetorian precincts. Pontius sat on his ivory throne, in all the majesty with which Rome adorns her representatives ; and apparently showed no fear, as if it was his intention to appear thus, and to bear an intrepid expression on his face; but I could quickly understand and catch his concern. In this same night which followed that unexpected catastrophe I started to write down this report, and in the morning the sound of bugles, paying the air of Diana, coming from the direction of Calvary (Golgotha) reached my ear. Your opponents, without any doubt, are prejudiced against you because of your prophecies, and against me because I granted you freedom. Some days later the High Priest came to me and excused himself. I threw myself at his feet and said: For the sake of all that is dear to you, and for this chi1ds sake, the token of our holy matrimonial bond, do not make yourself guilty by spilling the blood of this righteous man who is so like the immortal God. 10, says of the causes of Pilates death. Oh, how profound are these wise words and how much peace and mercy are to be found in them! He offended these proud and pompous people, and the outlook for the Nazarenes future is very dark. He was lucky: he had the good luck to escape the curse with followed us everywhere, and to have the terrible burden of his parents name released from his shoulders. . He proved to be a great-grandson of the chief of Intelligence Department who hid in Etruia in expectation of Catalina. It is only natural and absolutely advisable that the judges of to- day should read the Holy Books, i.e., the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. This document was translated from Greek into other European languages, and now-herewith- into the English language :-. McClintock and Strong. The defence continued the strong plea and asked the judges of the present court not to be selsh, and not to victimise real righteousness for political reasons. I was just about to go to the law-court accompanied by my guard. The Gospel of Nicodemus. Jairus fell at the feet of Him whom he had called Lord. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. At this time one of my maid-servants, a Jewess by birth, came to my room; pale, desperate and with frightened eyes she cried: Doomsday has arrived. He proved that Jesus could not have been sentenced to death, because He had never committed a single crime. His wife died a This unique document we shall quote in the following pages. re was shining. Resurrection Accounts Resurrection of Christ, Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . I once heard Him saying to the Pharisees: Whited sepulchres, breed of vipers, you impose heavy burdens upon your brethren, but you do not lift a. nger for them. . How cruel and despotic appears the prejudice against the Son of God I Christ was ready to suffer death for the redemption of mankind, but the fact that the religious leaders of His own nation thirsted to spill His blood filled to overowing the cup of his suffering. Eusebius records the following for us, It is worthy of note that Pilate himself, who was governor in the time of our Savior, is reported to have fallen into such misfortunes under Caius, whose times we are recording, that he was forced to become his own murderer and executioner; and thus divine vengeance, as it seems, was not long in overtaking him. rst years of my family life went by calmly and peacefully, Heaven blessed me with a son, and he was dearer to me than the light of day. They were divided into a thousand boisterous sects, but in one point they were all united: namely, in their furious hatred against the Romans. They wanted Jesus dead. It also declares she was a proselyte to Judaism, and a Roman citizen. One of the rebellious Hebrews, of whom there are many in Jerusalem. It is only natural and absolutely advisable that the judges of to- day should read the Holy Books, i.e., the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Are you Christ, The Son of God? Here is what the chronicle of Nikophorus Kallista, in the 2nd volume, chap. 12. Without further delay he was to be sentenced to death as many others before Him. I passed the time with my son in silent forests where deer fed on olive branches; where palms with their delicate fronds, more beautiful than in Delos, rose |over blossoming orange-trees, and under fruit-bearing nards. He, nished his speech, which lasted for four hours, by admonishing the judges to con. But the Bible never gives us her name. They perished. He had participated in seven wars, was brave and hardened by many ghts with German and other peoples. I was listening to this unintermitted uproar and my heart began to beat terribly and cold sweat streamed down my forehead. Upon my knees I called Him many times; against my will I pleaded with this God in the humility and tranquillity of my soul and heart, and Him to Whom I committed my destiny and my welfare as a slave submits to his master, and oh, wonder! Jeremiah 9:23-24. Pontius asked again: And what shall I do with Jesus of Nazareth ? In John, Pilate states: I find no guilt in him. Giving in to political pressure, Pilate does go ahead and authorize both the flogging and crucifixion of Jesus, satisfying the crowd and disregarding the wise advice of his wife. He drew their attention to the fact that the sentenced one was now in heaven and ready to forgive the injustice in. Like Dorothy L. Sayers in "The Man Born to Be King", Gertrude von le Fort, author of "The Song at the Scaffold", depicts Claudia's dream in "The Wife of Pilate" to be her hearing the words from the Creed: "suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried . A feeling of pity and profound sadness grieved my heart. the righteous, were raised by Him to the great eternity of divine salvation, but the second (the wicked) were thrown in a. res of Erebus and Phlegethon are nothing. The danger grew every hour. Why could I not save with my own life that of the wise man. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus records these words about Pilate, Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For starters, a woman in that time giving counsel to a man, albeit her own husband, was unheard of. The crowds of people were joined by guards and servants, Levites and Pharisees. I was on my knees without knowing what I did. Oh, what a distressing and lamentable spectacle it was to see the old man cry! Because He shows up their morals and hypocrisy. cation then did he order Jesus to be beaten? At that moment I saw the crowd break, offering passage to a group of men who came nearer to the house, and at whom the people looked, with great interest and reverence. IMAGINE: Having a very important message for your husband and he just wont listen. Oh, beyond any doubt, He suffered, but He suffered gladly, and His soul seemed to me to be carried to invisible heights as a consuming pure, The hall in -the courts was crowded, and looked like a foaming stream whose waters increased by an inf, ux, beginning at the mount Zion, where the Temple stood, and. He was surrounded with divine majesty. Herod, here referred to, appears as the son of Jerod the Great, who, after Jesus birth, had ordered the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem. He drew their attention to the fact that the sentenced one was now in heaven and ready to forgive the injustice inicted upon Him. WebAccording to tradition, Claudia is said to have converted to Christianity shortly after Jesus' death and become a rather prominent missionary of the early church. Acts of Faith Book Series in Order Full List How cruel and despotic appears the prejudice against the Son of God I Christ was ready to suffer death for the redemption of mankind, but the fact that the religious leaders of His own nation thirsted to spill His blood filled to over, It will not be long before He who suffered so much will appear and gather, among His people, those who have been persecuted and wrongly sentenced. Continually He is calling to your heart and appealing to your ear to return in peace to Jesus Christ and to give Him all your future, all your heart and life. When the dawn came and lighted the roofs of the Temple, I arose with a heart full of fear from what I had seen, and to calm myself, sat near the window. I followed Him, without His knowing. Do not harm others; this I order you. My only consolation consists in reading them again and again. What Roman laws had provided that an innocent man should be scourged? The manner in which he dressed and behaved were insolent. The shouting began again, even louder, and their voices were like the howling of wild, hungry animals. The only time the New Testament refers to Pontius Pilates wife, Claudia Procula, is found in Matthew 27:19. The President of this court was Dr. Weldeisel, one of the most important legislators among the Jewish people. The report of the Bible also tells us of the inscription, and of the inquest made by Ananias and Caiaphas at Herods place, and by Pilate in the courts.