Passion of the Christ - THE SECOND TRIAL: BEFORE PILATE

Before 1961, archaeologists could not find any physical evidence associating “Pilate” with the story of Jesus (or even with the history of Rome in Israel). That changed in 1961 when Dr. Antonio Frova and his team of archaeologists discovered what is now known as “The Pilate Stone.” They found this at the town of Caesarea, which had become Rome’s administrative seat in Jerusalem around 6 AD. The broken limestone rock still bears this readable inscription:

"To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum
… Pontius Pilate
… prefect of Judea
… has dedicated [this]"

It may have been an ancient Roman temple (or theater) which Pilate was dedicating to his patron, the Roman Emperor Tiberius, since that is where Dr. Frova’s team uncovered the stone. Photo by Marion Doss; online via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 2.0

Going across the city to Pilate's residence in Jerusalem (likely the Antonia Fortress, although that location is debatable), the assembly presented Jesus for the next round of interrogation. The religious leaders charged him with, among other things, subverting their nation and claiming to be Christ, a King.