THE CRUCIFIXION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17354, 20 May 1924, Page 11

THE CRUCIFIXION.

PILATE’S ORDER FOUND. An extraordinary document, which, archaeologists are convinced, is the Roman military order under which Christ was tried and crucified by Pontius Pilate, has been discovered by the French Government’s ethnological mission in Southern Tunisia, says ** Science Siftings.” It substantiates the history of the Saviour’s trial ami death described in tho New Testament, but-* seems to place the legal responsibility fwr the condemnation upon the Roman Government rather than upon the Hebrew high priests. Tho wording of the order, written with a stylus of wax, signed by Augustus Cesar,, and afterwards copied om stone, according to the ” Algerian.” is as follows:—“To All Colonial Governors of the Roman Empire in Palestine and Near and Further Arabia : Prophets and religious revolutionists have arisen among the people. These prophets are not to be interfered with under the Roman law except where their teachings are of such nature as to cause disturbances among the people. In such cases they are to be effectively suppressed. It is particularly desirable. that these prophets be not allowed to interfere with the collection of taxes or with any other political affairs.” Pontius Pilate, a Roman official, was the “ procurator ” of Galilee at the time of Christ’s trial. That meant that he was the civil and military governor of the little province. In that capacity he must/have had. among the edicts he was sworn to administer, a copy of the Augustini&n decree. Under the Jewish law the Pharisees and high priests held Christ guilty of blasphemy' and worthy of death, because, they claimed. He had said. “ T am the Son of God.” But the Roman law took no interest in purely religious matters, and, as the Pharisees soon discovered at the actual trial, they could not secure His conviction on that. So they brought another charge—that Christ Had said, , “ I am the King of the Jews.” This. If taken literally, was sedition and interference irt political affairs. The Jews under Roman dominion could have no king but Caesnr. Tt was on this point, finally, that Caiaphas and the high priests who had brought tho complaint forced th* conviction and execution of Jesus.