Archaeologists have discovered a ring bearing the name of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who conducted the trial and ordered the crucifixion of Jesus.
Researchers in Israel say the artifact was found at an archaeological dig near both Jerusalem and Bethlehem and bears an inscription which reads, “of Pilatus.”
The ring was actually discovered some 50 years ago during excavations led by Professor Gideon Forster from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It has since undergone an intense cleaning process and has been analyzed with a specialized camera in a laboratory.
Aside from the inscription, the ring also clearly shows a wine vessel known as a ‘krater.’
2000-year-old ring may have been owned by Pontius Pilate, say experts https://t.co/vDLOf4RART via @smh pic.twitter.com/g0UjwKS43e
— David Hulme (@DrDavidHulme) December 2, 2018
Is It Really His?
Researchers caution that the ring may have actually been the property of someone in the Pilate administration.
However, they add, “Since the name Pilatus is rare, it is not inconceivable that this ring belonged to Pontius Pilatus himself.”
Professor Danny Schwartz adds, “I don’t know of any other Pilatus from the period and the ring shows he was a person of stature and wealth.”
“A stamping ring of this type is also a hallmark to the status of the cavalry in Roman times, to which Pilate belonged,” Haaretz reports. “The ring is quite simple, therefore researchers believe it was used by the governor in day to day work, or belonged to one of his officials or someone in his court, who would use it to sign in his name.”
Will This Evidence Help Atheists Believe In Some Biblical References?
It wasn’t all that long ago – two years, roughly – that The Political Insider covered a new trend among liberals and atheists, denying that Jesus ever even existed.
Our report notes that Jewish historian Josephus, who provides one of the first historical accounts of the existence of Jesus, also makes note of Pilate’s role in his being “condemned … to the cross.”
A 2,000-year-old copper alloy ring was dug up 50 years ago. It bears the inscription “of Pilatus,” and maybe the second artifact proving that Pontius Pilate existed. https://t.co/ODwRafOu3M
— CBN News (@CBNNews) December 2, 2018
Liberals Compare Trump to Pontius Pilate
While they generally like to mock religion every chance they get, some members of the media have taken to comparing President Trump to Pontius Pilate.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough used the occasion of a horrific shooting at a Florida high school to allege that the President is “letting Christians get slaughtered” just like the Roman governor.
As unreal as that sounds, here is the quote:
He is letting our children get slaughtered. Week, by week, by week. And it will happen again. He’s letting Christians that go to church get slaughtered. Like Pontius Pilate. [House Speaker] Paul Ryan (R-WI). Donald Trump. They’re just washing their hands of it like Pontius Pilate. Letting Christians get slaughtered in pews, letting country fans get slaughtered at concerts.
Scarborough: Trump Like ‘Pontius Pilate’: ‘Letting Christians Get Slaughtered’ pic.twitter.com/NuhjXVH48O
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) February 16, 2018
Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) compared Trump to Pilate over his handling of illegal immigrant ‘DREAMers.’
The latest research on the Pontius Pilate ring has been published in the Israel Exploration Journal.
