Q 01/05

Pontius Pilate governed Judaea under which Roman emperor?

A) Augustus

B) Claudius

C) Tiberius

D) Nero

Answer · why

C) Tiberius

Tiberius had retired to Capri in 26, leading some scholars to suggest Pilate was really appointed by the Praetorian prefect Sejanus.

Q 02/05

Pilate was which number governor of the Roman province of Judaea?

A) Third

B) First

C) Fifth

D) Tenth

Answer · why

C) Fifth

He is the best-attested holder of the post, though few sources about his rule survive.

Q 03/05

Pilate is named in which two major statements of Christian faith?

A) The Athanasian and Chalcedonian Creeds

B) The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds

C) The Didache and the Shema prayers

D) The Augsburg and Westminster Confessions

Answer · why

B) The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds

The phrase 'suffered under Pontius Pilate' anchors the crucifixion in history.

Q 04/05

Which national church venerates Pilate as both a martyr and a saint, believing he became a Christian?

A) The Maronite of Lebanon

B) The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

C) The Church of England

D) The Russian Orthodox

Answer · why

B) The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo

The Coptic Church historically held the same view; his Ethiopian feast day is 19 June.

Q 05/05

Per Josephus, Pilate was dismissed after violently putting down which people's uprising at Mount Gerizim?

A) The Samaritans

B) The Nabataeans

C) The Idumaeans

D) The Galileans

Answer · why

A) The Samaritans

They had gathered hoping to find artefacts buried by Moses; their complaint went to the Syrian legate Vitellius.