answered: “Render unto Caesar the things which are his, and unto God the things which are God’s.”

It was on account of the wisdom of this saying that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene, for it was in my power to have him arrested and exiled to Pontus; but this would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Romans. This man was neither seditious nor rebellious. I extended to him my protection, unknown, perhaps, to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, to choose disciples, unrestrained by any praetorian mandate.

Should it ever happen—may the gods avert the omen—I say should it ever happen that the religion of our ancestors be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature obsequies; while I, miserable wretch, shall have been the instrument of what the Hebrews call providence, and we, destiny.

BUT THIS unlimited freedom granted to Jesus provoked so much liberty to the Nazarene, for it was in my power to have him arrested and exiled to Pontus; but this would have been contrary to the justice which has always characterized the Romans. This man was neither seditious nor rebellious. I extended to him my protection, unknown, perhaps, to himself. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and address the people, to choose disciples, unrestrained by any praetorian mandate.

Should it ever happen—may the gods avert the omen—I say should it ever happen that the religion of our ancestors be supplanted by the religion of Jesus, it will be to this noble toleration that Rome shall owe her premature obsequies; while I, miserable wretch, shall have been the instrument of what the Hebrews call providence, and we, destiny.

Nevertheless, my conduct was pleasing to the Senate, and I was promised aid after the Parthian war was ended. Since I was too weak to suppress a sedition, I resolved upon a plan to give quiet to the city, yet not to lay aside the authority of the Pretorium. I sent a message to Jesus, desiring that he should come to me at the Pretorium. You know that Spanish blood mixed with the Roman blood is in my veins, equally incapable of fear and childish emotion.