The Pilate Stone and Inscription

2025-06-28

In 1961, a damaged block of limestone was discovered at the Caesarea Maritima archaeological site. It bears a reference to Pontius Pilate. It reads “To the Divine Augusti (honorable gods) [this] Tiberieum ...Pontius Pilate ...prefect of Judea ...has dedicated [this]...”

There is not much there, but there is great significance of its corroborating the historical Pontius Pilate, who was governor over Judaea at the time of Jesus. This prefect was responsible for ordering the crucifixion of Jesus.

We see here in the inscription that Pilate was honoring the emperor Tiberius with some structure, perhaps a temple. We also confirm his role being over the province of Judaea. It is dated to be from the first century A.D. This corroborates the Scriptures when it says, “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene” (Luke 3:1).

Pilate was concerned about keeping peace during his reign. He found no fault in Jesus, knowing He was innocent. Pilate unsuccessfully tried to pass Jesus off to Herod for judgment (Luke 23:6-7). However, this governor was willing to squash justice so that he could keep his place in the kingdom. “Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified” (Mark 15:14-15). Perhaps it was in this spirit that he dedicated some building to the emperor.

See also K.C. Hanson, The Pilate Inscription.