Personal Life
Only the Jewish historian Josephus provides us with what little information is
known about Pilate's life before 26 A.D. when Tiberius Caesar appointed him
procurator of Judea. The sketchy information suggests that Pilate was probably an
Italianborn Roman citizen whose family was wealthy enough for him to qualify
for the middle class.
He most likely held certain military posts before his appointment in Judea.
According to the New Testament Pontius Pilate had a wife (Matt 27:19), and
brought her, Claudia Procula, to live with him at Caesarea, his headquarters within
the province.
Pilate governed the areas of Judea, Samaria, and the area south as far as the
Dead Sea to Gaza. As procurator he had absolute authority over the non-Roman
citizens of the province. He was accountable to the Roman governor who lived in
Syria to the north (Luke 2:2).
Pontius
Pilate
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