Tucker Carlson appears to blame Jews for killing Charlie Kirk with story on Jesus’ death
Speaking at memorial service for slain conservative activist, Carlson amplifies the conspiracy theory Israel was behind the assassination, sparking widespread criticism
By PHILISSA CRAMER Today, 5:16 pm
timesofisrael.com
He's drawing an analogy of Charlie Kirk's assassination with the gospel story of the Jewish Sanhedrin Council and the Jewish mob forcing the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to put him to death. Tucker Carlson is placing the blame on a 'mob'.
The gospel account is in dispute since the story of the trial differs from Jewish laws and how the court was run. Some believe the story was written for a Roman audience.
Based on the Gospel accounts, Pontius Pilate capitulated to a mob demanding Jesus' death due to political pressure and fear of a riot, even though he declared Jesus innocent. The historical context shows that Pilate was a Roman governor with a history of brutally suppressing dissent, which suggests that his actions were motivated by pragmatism rather than sympathy for Jesus.
The Gospel narrative
All four Gospels provide a consistent portrayal of Pilate being pressured into crucifying Jesus.
- Initial hesitation: When Jesus was brought before him, Pilate found no legitimate charges against him and was initially reluctant to condemn him.
- A political charge: Though the Jewish high priests had condemned Jesus for blasphemy under their law, this was not a capital offense under Roman law. They strategically accused him of sedition—of claiming to be "King of the Jews," a direct challenge to Roman authority.
- An offer rejected: Pilate attempted to release Jesus by offering the crowd a choice between him and Barabbas, a known criminal. The crowd, incited by the chief priests, demanded Barabbas' release and Jesus' crucifixion instead.
- Washing his hands: In the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate symbolically washed his hands of the decision, proclaiming his innocence of Jesus' blood and leaving the responsibility to the crowd. This act was an unsuccessful attempt to absolve himself of guilt.
Political expediency and historical context
While the Gospels portray Pilate as a hesitant leader, his historical reputation from non-biblical sources presents a different picture of a ruthless and authoritarian prefect.
- A volatile region: Judea was a turbulent province for the Roman Empire, known for frequent uprisings. Pilate's primary responsibility was to maintain civil order.
- A history of violence: Ancient historians like Josephus record Pilate's brutality. For instance, he used hidden soldiers to violently suppress a protest over his use of temple funds for an aqueduct, leading to many deaths. This shows a governor unconcerned with public opinion unless it threatened to escalate into full-scale rebellion.
- The threat of a riot: The Passover festival drew large numbers of people to Jerusalem, making the area especially volatile. Pilate understood that giving in to the mob was the most politically expedient way to prevent a large-scale riot, which could have led to a reprimand or removal by the emperor.
- Vulnerability to the high priests: The high priests and Jewish leaders knew Pilate's vulnerability. According to Josephus, Pilate had previously been exposed to criticism by Jewish leaders who complained directly to Emperor Tiberius about his actions. When they threatened to report Pilate's leniency to Caesar, it likely sealed Jesus' fate.
Ultimately, Pilate's decision was a pragmatic choice to sacrifice an individual he considered harmless in order to maintain peace and protect his political position.
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