Possible site of Jesus’ trial uncovered in the Holy Land

Last updated on: January 5, 2015 at 9:32 pm by CNA Daily News

Possible site of Jesus’ trial uncovered in the Holy Land 2015-01-05T21:32:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Jan 5, 2015 / 02:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archeologists believe they may have discovered the place where Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate took place in Jerusalem.

In an effort to expand The Tower of David Museum, archeologists began excavating an adjacent, abandoned prison building, the Washington Post reports. As they stripped away layers of the prison floor, they realized they were likely uncovering a missing link in the puzzle of the Holy Land’s history.

Although the discovery began over a decade ago, the site is just now being opened to the public for the millions of religious pilgrims that flock to the area every year.

“For those Christians who care about accuracy in regards to historical facts, this is very forceful,” Yisca Harani, an expert on Christianity and pilgrimage to the Holy Land, told the Washington Post. “For others, however, those who come for the general mental exercise of being in Jerusalem, they don’t care as long as [their journey] ends in Golgotha — the site of the Crucifixion.”

Most Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land walk the path of the Stations of the Cross, known as the Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Way of Sorrows”), which currently does not include the Tower of David Museum or the trial site. Although it may not be added to the path right away, museum workers hope it becomes a standard stop for visiting Christians.

Scholars and theologians cannot say with certainty whether this site is where the trial took place, but it seems to check out in many ways. According to the Gospels, Jesus was tried before Pilate in the “praetorium,” a Latin term for a general’s tent within a Roman encampment. Some believe this praetorium would rather be on the site of the former Roman military barracks.

But others, such as archaeology professor Shimon Gibson with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, are almost certain the trial would have occurred somewhere within Herod’s palace compound located in the western part of the city, which is where the Tower of David museum and the abandoned prison are located.

The new site also fits a detail in the Gospel of John which describe the trial as taking place on The Pavement, or in Hebrew, Gab’batha (John 19:13), as well as a description in Mark 15:16, which describe Jesus as being led away inside the palace.

“There is, of course, no inscription stating it happened here, but everything – archaeological, historical and gospel accounts – all falls into place and makes sense,” Gibson told the Washington Post.

The Rev. David Pileggi, minister of Christ Church, an Anglican congregation near the museum, told the publication that the discovery fits “what everyone expected all along, that the trial took place near the Tower of David.”

Previous Post

January 5, 2015

'No human invention' – Marriage a divine plan, bishop says

Next Post

January 6, 2015 Pope Francis casts into the deep to find two cardinals for Oceania

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet was exiled to Babylon and saw a vision of four living creatures?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jeremiah Hosea Joel Ezekiel