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The Redemption of Pontius Pilate
Lucius Pontius Pilate was a Roman on the rise - a ruthless confidential agent of the reclusive Emperor Tiberius Caesar. He had a cruel streak that Tiberius used to strike fear into the hearts of Rome's enemies, but after a disastrous encounter with Tiberius' young heir, Gaius Caligula, Pilate found himself dismissed from the Emperor's court and sent to political exile in the Empire's least desirable province - the desert wasteland of Judea.
In this dry country, where political rebellion and religious fanaticism blossomed like flowers after a desert rain, Pilate's life became entwined with that of a mysterious holy man, the itinerant preacher known as Jesus of Nazareth. But Jesus has powerful enemies in the local establishment . . . and they want Pilate to rid them of their problem.
In this dry country, where political rebellion and religious fanaticism blossomed like flowers after a desert rain, Pilate's life became entwined with that of a mysterious holy man, the itinerant preacher known as Jesus of Nazareth. But Jesus has powerful enemies in the local establishment . . . and they want Pilate to rid them of their problem.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2015
3 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Lewis Ben Smith
7 books41 followersLewis Smith is a pastor, historian, teacher, husband, father of twins, and a third degree black belt in Uechi-Ryu karate. He is an avid collector of Indian artifacts and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. His first novel, THE TESTIMONIUM, was written in 2012 and published in 2014. His next novel, THE REDEMPTION OF PONTIUS PILATE, was released on May 19, 2015. His third novel, MATTHEW'S AUTOGRAPH, was released in December of 2015. He currently has one work being reviewed for publication and is working on his fifth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 21, 2015
The Redemption of Pontius Pilate by Lewis Ben Smith
Book Reviewed by Thomas A. Timmes
Pontius Pilate. Who is he and why should I read a book about him? Will this book add to my general knowledge of history and Roman history in particular? I know he’s mentioned several times in the Bible’s New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to be specific, and has a 2,000 year reputation as a bad guy. Is there more to know? The answer is yes, quite a bit, as I discovered.
I learned that the author did not have to create the story or characters out of whole cloth. Quite a lot is known about Pilate from the accounts of Flavius Josephus, Philo, the Jewish philosopher, who is openly hostile to Pilate, Tactitus’ Annals of Imperial Rome, the writings of several early Christian church fathers such as Tertullian, and Jewish archival records.
The characters of the story are known historical figures: Tiberius, the Emperor, Drusilla, his mother, Germanicus, his son, Sejanus, Tiberius’ confidant, Caligula, the future Emperor, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, Caiaphas, Jewish High Priest, Jesus of Nazareth, healer and miracle worker, and several others.
I also discovered that Pilate and his wife Procula have been the subject of hundreds of books going back to the 1870’s. Apparently, there is a hunger to know more about Pilate and why he condemned Jesus to be scourged and crucified even though he personally could find no fault in him.
Lewis Ben Smith has connected all the dots and shown himself to be a masterful story teller! The Redemption of Pontius Pilate is a compelling, action-packed, and suspenseful tale of intrigue and betrayal. The book is filled with relatable characters and historical events that showcase his knowledge of Roman and Judean politics of the era. He has created a seamless and plausible account of the remarkable rise and devastating fall of Pilate, a Roman of high Equestrian status.
What went wrong with Pilate’s promising career? This is where Lewis Ben Smith really shines! The answer lies with Tiberius’ successor-to-be - Caligula! Tiberius protects Pilate from young Caligula’s wrath by posting him far from Rome in the least desirable region of the Empire, Judea, a small but troublesome area within the Syrian Province.
Once Pilate escapes from Rome, his main concern is to maintain the Pax Romana in Judea, prevent Jewish complaints about him from reaching Tiberius, hunt down the Jewish Zealots, collect the taxes, and maintain a bevy of spies to alert him to possible trouble. As a soldier, Pilate relishes combat with the Zealots and shows them no mercy when they are captured. Crucifixion is the punishment of choice!
Pilate is depicted as an honest governor, but has a cruel streak that he constantly battles to control. Twice he is reprimanded by Tiberius for offending the Jews and told to be more sensitive to their particular beliefs. Pilate then hears about a healer who is attracting huge crowds. His spies see and hear nothing to worry about, but the High Priest and Sanhedrin view the healer and miracle worker, Jesus, as a threat. Pilate refuses to do anything about him and continues to receive condensed versions of what the “trouble-maker” is saying and doing.
Meanwhile Pilate and his Legionaries capture the Zealot commander Bar Abbas who now has a date with the cross. About the same time, the Jewish police arrest Jesus for disturbing the peace and possibly upsetting Judea’s delicate relationship with Rome. The High Priest demands that Pilate have him executed on the grounds that Jesus has declared himself a King and is in competition with Caesar. Pilate steadfastly refuses to order the execution until the High Priest threatens Pilate with another written complaint to Tiberius. Pilate famously washes his hands of the whole affair and approves the execution.
Two years later, Emperor Tiberius dies and Caligula is proclaimed the new Emperor. At this point in the tale, Lewis Ben Smith reverts to the fictional aspects of his story. Caligula wants revenge against Pilate and the hunt is on! Caligula’s black clad Praetorians descend upon Judea and set the stage for an exciting conclusion.
I genuinely liked the book and highly recommend it.
Thomas A. Timmes is the author of Legio XVII: Battle of Zama
Book Reviewed by Thomas A. Timmes
Pontius Pilate. Who is he and why should I read a book about him? Will this book add to my general knowledge of history and Roman history in particular? I know he’s mentioned several times in the Bible’s New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to be specific, and has a 2,000 year reputation as a bad guy. Is there more to know? The answer is yes, quite a bit, as I discovered.
I learned that the author did not have to create the story or characters out of whole cloth. Quite a lot is known about Pilate from the accounts of Flavius Josephus, Philo, the Jewish philosopher, who is openly hostile to Pilate, Tactitus’ Annals of Imperial Rome, the writings of several early Christian church fathers such as Tertullian, and Jewish archival records.
The characters of the story are known historical figures: Tiberius, the Emperor, Drusilla, his mother, Germanicus, his son, Sejanus, Tiberius’ confidant, Caligula, the future Emperor, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, Caiaphas, Jewish High Priest, Jesus of Nazareth, healer and miracle worker, and several others.
I also discovered that Pilate and his wife Procula have been the subject of hundreds of books going back to the 1870’s. Apparently, there is a hunger to know more about Pilate and why he condemned Jesus to be scourged and crucified even though he personally could find no fault in him.
Lewis Ben Smith has connected all the dots and shown himself to be a masterful story teller! The Redemption of Pontius Pilate is a compelling, action-packed, and suspenseful tale of intrigue and betrayal. The book is filled with relatable characters and historical events that showcase his knowledge of Roman and Judean politics of the era. He has created a seamless and plausible account of the remarkable rise and devastating fall of Pilate, a Roman of high Equestrian status.
What went wrong with Pilate’s promising career? This is where Lewis Ben Smith really shines! The answer lies with Tiberius’ successor-to-be - Caligula! Tiberius protects Pilate from young Caligula’s wrath by posting him far from Rome in the least desirable region of the Empire, Judea, a small but troublesome area within the Syrian Province.
Once Pilate escapes from Rome, his main concern is to maintain the Pax Romana in Judea, prevent Jewish complaints about him from reaching Tiberius, hunt down the Jewish Zealots, collect the taxes, and maintain a bevy of spies to alert him to possible trouble. As a soldier, Pilate relishes combat with the Zealots and shows them no mercy when they are captured. Crucifixion is the punishment of choice!
Pilate is depicted as an honest governor, but has a cruel streak that he constantly battles to control. Twice he is reprimanded by Tiberius for offending the Jews and told to be more sensitive to their particular beliefs. Pilate then hears about a healer who is attracting huge crowds. His spies see and hear nothing to worry about, but the High Priest and Sanhedrin view the healer and miracle worker, Jesus, as a threat. Pilate refuses to do anything about him and continues to receive condensed versions of what the “trouble-maker” is saying and doing.
Meanwhile Pilate and his Legionaries capture the Zealot commander Bar Abbas who now has a date with the cross. About the same time, the Jewish police arrest Jesus for disturbing the peace and possibly upsetting Judea’s delicate relationship with Rome. The High Priest demands that Pilate have him executed on the grounds that Jesus has declared himself a King and is in competition with Caesar. Pilate steadfastly refuses to order the execution until the High Priest threatens Pilate with another written complaint to Tiberius. Pilate famously washes his hands of the whole affair and approves the execution.
Two years later, Emperor Tiberius dies and Caligula is proclaimed the new Emperor. At this point in the tale, Lewis Ben Smith reverts to the fictional aspects of his story. Caligula wants revenge against Pilate and the hunt is on! Caligula’s black clad Praetorians descend upon Judea and set the stage for an exciting conclusion.
I genuinely liked the book and highly recommend it.
Thomas A. Timmes is the author of Legio XVII: Battle of Zama
March 28, 2016
This story grasped me right away with an eerie prologue that is representative of the author's creativity as well as his ability to write and use language in fresh, interesting ways. There is much that is not known about Pontius Pilate, and the author has filled in the gaps about his life by creating a thrilling, fictional account of Pilate as a strong ruler. Supported with historically accurate characters and events, the plot is thickened by the tangled webs these characters have woven to reach their opposing goals. Pilate is portrayed with a hidden side/secret (which I will not reveal in order not to spoil the story) which creates additional conflict in the plot. Especially well written was the excitement the built toward the capture of Bar Abbas and the last few chapters once Caligula becomes emperor. The back of the book contains lists of historical figures in the book, fictional characters, a time line of events, and a glossary of Latin terms used in the story.
September 17, 2016
An intriguing and suspenseful account of Pontius Pilate from his youth to death well after his fateful encounter with Jesus, Lewis Smith weaves a complex tail of soaring ambition, downfall and ultimate redemption. The book is written from Pilate's perspective, and you feel as if you are living the Roman's life as he works his way from minor nobility to the highest levels of power. A shocking plot twist sends him off to the backwaters of the Roman world, where he struggles to understand the strange Jewish people under his charge. The historical background and descriptions of life in the times of Jesus is all very well done.
August 10, 2015
Really interesting book. I am not a bible scholar at all, and wonder how much of it is historical and how much fiction. The last 4 or 5 chapters were the best.
October 5, 2019
This one's been on my list for a while because I love biblical history—I'm so glad I finally gave it a chance. Smith presents Pilate from a sympathetic perspective, a puppet of the world he’s born into and a man driven by appetites. The take on Tiberius is interesting too in a similar vein. Pilate says early, “It does no good to long for what we cannot have.” Despite the dark turns of his fortunes, this fatalism is soon called into question. Pilate becomes a man with agency who must face the consequences of his actions. As he departs for Judea midway through the novel, I found myself searching for a thesis—why Pilate, and why from this vantage point? By the end, the author delivers. Smith opens a large window into Ancient Rome, depicting the cold brutality of politics in a surprisingly accessible tone. It’s the literary equivalent of on-screen violence without the gore. Smith includes a fair bit of humor to pace out the heavy bits, and the New Testament references are familiar without feeling like Christian-literature cliches. Much of the plot develops through letters between Pilate and his Roman contacts, amplifying the personal perspective. While I mostly enjoyed this technique, there was one climactic moment with Jesus that I wished I could have seen play out in real time instead of reading through a report (no spoilers, but, hey, it's the Bible—you can guess which part I'm talking about). Overall, I recommend it. "Pilate" is intriguing for history lovers and could even reach YA with some discretion advised.
May 4, 2019
This book is something I wouldn't normally read but I am happy that I did! It captured my attention from beginning to the end and was definitely a page turner. I loved it so much, I ordered a second for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day. I am sure she will enjoy it as much as I did!
June 17, 2019
I’m not into Christian literature, but I am a history buff, and this book really reeled me in.
I saw all the characters as people, and they were presented as sympathetic figures for their time.
I grew up seeing Pontius Pilate as an evil
historic figure, and this book truly sees him as a man of his time, and trying to please the powers that be.
An excellent historical novel.
I saw all the characters as people, and they were presented as sympathetic figures for their time.
I grew up seeing Pontius Pilate as an evil
historic figure, and this book truly sees him as a man of his time, and trying to please the powers that be.
An excellent historical novel.
June 22, 2019
This is an excellent book! I have already read it twice, and I'm almost ready to read it a third time. As soon as I finished this book, I ordered the rest of Lewis Smith's books, and I haven't been disappointed yet. I'm looking forward to his next release!
May 23, 2022
What an interesting concept! Loved it.
January 14, 2024
Hey there book lovers! It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming at you with a review of Lewis Ben Smith’s The Redemption of Pontius Pilate. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s do this!
In the spirit of total transparency, I need to let you know I am a Christian. I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and I do believe that Jesus died for my sins. One of the things I have struggled with is understanding why Pontius Pilate was so reviled. Yes, he sentenced Jesus to scourging, and then crucifixion, but this was done to appease an angry crowd. He even washed his hands of the whole affair, yet he is the villain. I have often wondered about the life of this man before and after these events. I even tried to do some research on the man, especially in this day and age of the internet and fast answers. The main result I came up with is “Not much is known about Pontius Pilate except for what is written in the New Testament.” With his book The Redemption of Pontius Pilate, Lewis Ben Smith has attempted to fill in the missing blanks.
Pontius Pilate was a man who rode through the ranks of Roman society to a level of power not many have matched. One incident was enough to bring him down and exiled to what was considered to be the armpit of the empire, Judea. As much as he was a Roman citizen and governor, he was also a family man. Everything he did was for Rome and followed Roman laws. Right down to the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. His wife begged him not to be involved with the trial. He did everything he could to not have any involvement with the trial, especially since technically, Jesus did NOT break any Roman laws. Yet, he ended up sentencing Jesus to crucifixion. He would be haunted by this action for a long time afterward. He would be plagued by nightmares, and he would almost lose his son, but in the end, he will find himself, and forgiveness from some unlikely people.
This book is very rich in detail. It is a Masterclass in ancient Roman society and politics. I got a good sense of who Pontius Pilate was and I was actually rooting for the man throughout the book. What I really appreciated was the explanation of what happened to him after the trial of Jesus. Lewis Ben Smith brought this tragic character to life and showed us who he was and could have been. It has something for everyone: heroes and villains, love and loss, good and evil, and a main character worthy of some second thought.
I do not say this lightly when I say it was the BEST piece of historical fiction I have ever read. It is a book I will highly recommend and even get for friends as gifts later in the year.
I give this book 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
Happy Reading!
In the spirit of total transparency, I need to let you know I am a Christian. I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and I do believe that Jesus died for my sins. One of the things I have struggled with is understanding why Pontius Pilate was so reviled. Yes, he sentenced Jesus to scourging, and then crucifixion, but this was done to appease an angry crowd. He even washed his hands of the whole affair, yet he is the villain. I have often wondered about the life of this man before and after these events. I even tried to do some research on the man, especially in this day and age of the internet and fast answers. The main result I came up with is “Not much is known about Pontius Pilate except for what is written in the New Testament.” With his book The Redemption of Pontius Pilate, Lewis Ben Smith has attempted to fill in the missing blanks.
Pontius Pilate was a man who rode through the ranks of Roman society to a level of power not many have matched. One incident was enough to bring him down and exiled to what was considered to be the armpit of the empire, Judea. As much as he was a Roman citizen and governor, he was also a family man. Everything he did was for Rome and followed Roman laws. Right down to the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. His wife begged him not to be involved with the trial. He did everything he could to not have any involvement with the trial, especially since technically, Jesus did NOT break any Roman laws. Yet, he ended up sentencing Jesus to crucifixion. He would be haunted by this action for a long time afterward. He would be plagued by nightmares, and he would almost lose his son, but in the end, he will find himself, and forgiveness from some unlikely people.
This book is very rich in detail. It is a Masterclass in ancient Roman society and politics. I got a good sense of who Pontius Pilate was and I was actually rooting for the man throughout the book. What I really appreciated was the explanation of what happened to him after the trial of Jesus. Lewis Ben Smith brought this tragic character to life and showed us who he was and could have been. It has something for everyone: heroes and villains, love and loss, good and evil, and a main character worthy of some second thought.
I do not say this lightly when I say it was the BEST piece of historical fiction I have ever read. It is a book I will highly recommend and even get for friends as gifts later in the year.
I give this book 5 very enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!
Happy Reading!
November 7, 2025
This book took me a while to get into, but once I did, it was enjoyable!
This story takes place around the time that Jesus was born and takes place within the Roman Empire.
The main character, Pontius Pilate has worked his way up through the Roman Empire and is close friends with Emporer Tiberius. However, and unfortunate event occurs that causes Pilate to be demonstrated and cast away to a far point in the empire which governs Jerusalem. It is here that he learns of Jesus and his followers. Against his better judgement, he commits Jesus to death but later agrees that his ways must change. With a new Emporer in power, Pilate is on the run for this life and with the help of Jesus' deciples, he tries to flee absolute death.
This story takes place around the time that Jesus was born and takes place within the Roman Empire.
The main character, Pontius Pilate has worked his way up through the Roman Empire and is close friends with Emporer Tiberius. However, and unfortunate event occurs that causes Pilate to be demonstrated and cast away to a far point in the empire which governs Jerusalem. It is here that he learns of Jesus and his followers. Against his better judgement, he commits Jesus to death but later agrees that his ways must change. With a new Emporer in power, Pilate is on the run for this life and with the help of Jesus' deciples, he tries to flee absolute death.
October 12, 2017
Great book!
I chose this rating because it was exciting from beginning to end and I recommend it to all my family and friends.
This book made me feel like I was right there with them. This is the second of his books I have read and I will definitely read more Ben Lewis Smith!
I chose this rating because it was exciting from beginning to end and I recommend it to all my family and friends.
This book made me feel like I was right there with them. This is the second of his books I have read and I will definitely read more Ben Lewis Smith!
April 13, 2023
Great Story
I enjoyed the story very much. Well written and the Characters believable. The History of Rome and its practice of crucifixion well documented. Well done Mr. Smith
I enjoyed the story very much. Well written and the Characters believable. The History of Rome and its practice of crucifixion well documented. Well done Mr. Smith
April 11, 2025
Wow I'm really impressed with THE REDEMPTION OF PONTIUS PILATE!
June 13, 2020
Okay, listen, this is not a genre I would usually read but I'm so glad I read this back in 2018. I realized I hadn't left a review and needed to fix that right now!
Honestly, this book kind of propelled my interest in historical fiction! I was enthralled from the first page to the last and the ending was soooo well-written and satisfying. If you give this book a chance, I really think it will hook you, real you in, and take you to dinner. (That is NOT how that metaphor is supposed to go, is it? Oh well...)
I just love the way Lewis looks at stories we may think we know in such a unique and suspenseful way. Also, I love the formats in the book, such as the letters. Very creative!
Honestly, this book kind of propelled my interest in historical fiction! I was enthralled from the first page to the last and the ending was soooo well-written and satisfying. If you give this book a chance, I really think it will hook you, real you in, and take you to dinner. (That is NOT how that metaphor is supposed to go, is it? Oh well...)
I just love the way Lewis looks at stories we may think we know in such a unique and suspenseful way. Also, I love the formats in the book, such as the letters. Very creative!
December 4, 2016
This is a fantastic book. Mr. Smith knows his Roman culture, and weaved a story so good I got lost in the tale and almost forgot where to separate fiction from history. I was thoroughly drawn in to Pontius Pilate's life. I cannot recommend this book enough!
December 19, 2015
I won a free copy of this book thanks to the First Reads giveaway program.
1 star.
Sorry, I wanted to like it, I really did, but it was just too boring.
1 star.
Sorry, I wanted to like it, I really did, but it was just too boring.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews