Pontius Pilate's problem is that he is so practical, so cold-blooded, that he can ask, "What is truth," and never see it standing right before his eyes.

(Please read Luke 13:1-5; Mark 15:1-15;John 18:28--19:16; 1 Timothy 6:13)

Pontius Pilate

The historian Josephus records that Pilate was replaced as Procurator of Judea for having executed Samaritan leaders who sought sacred vessels supposedly stored on Mount Gerizim since the days of Moses. Complaint was made to the Roman legate, Vitellius, and Pilate was sent in shame to Rome.

Christian tradition has it that Paul was imprisoned and later martyred in Rome. The setting for this dialogue supposes that Paul and Pilate meet in a Roman prison cell.

Paul: Let me ask the traditional prison question: What are you "in" for?

Pontius: As I see it,…