Christ, Sentence of
Pontius Pilate officially sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion, fulfilling prophecy.
"Sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate, intendant of the Lower Province of Galilee, that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer death by the cross. In the seventeenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, and on the twenty-fourth day of the month of March, in the most holy city of Jerusalem, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, intendant of the Province of Lower Galilee, sitting to judgment in the presidential seat of the praetor, sentences Jesus of Nazareth to death on a cross between robbers, as the numerous and notorious testimonies of the people prove: 1. Jesus is a misleader; 2. He has excited the people to sedition; 3. He is an enemy to the laws; 4. He calls himself the Son of God; 5. He calls himself falsely the King of Israel; 6. He went into the temple followed by a multitude carrying palms in their hands. Orders from the first centurion, Quirillis Cornelius, to bring him to the place of execution. Forbids all persons, rich or poor, to prevent the execution of Jesus. The witnesses who have signed the execution of Jesus are, 1. Daniel Robani, Pharisee; 2. John Zorababel; 3. Raphael Robani; 4. Capet. Jesus to be taken out of Jerusalem through the Gate of Tournes." This sentence is engraved on a plate of brass, in the Hebrew language, and on its sides are the following words: "A similar plate has been sent to each tribe." It was discovered in the year 1280, in the city of Aquilla, in the kingdom of Naples, by a search made for the Roman antiquities, and remained there until it was found by the Commission of Arts in the French army of Italy. Up to the time of the campaign in Southern Italy, it was preserved in the sacristy of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box of ebony. Since then, the relic has been kept in the chapel of Caserta. The Carthusians obtained by their petitions that the plate might be kept by them, which was an acknowledgment of the sacrifices which they made for the French army. The French translation was made literally by members of the Commission of Arts. Denon had a fac simile of the plate engraved, which was bought by Lord Howard, on the sale of his cabinet, for 2,890 francs. There seem to be no historical doubts as to the authenticity of this. The reasons of the sentence correspond exactly with those in the gospel. Kotidsche Zeitung.