| Aug 29, 2009 @ 3:55 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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Twelve reasons why the arrest
and conviction of Jesus was illegal.
The trial of Jesus Christ was without legal precedent. He was convicted and executed even though Pilate (the local Roman authority) found Him innocent! Let's briefly notice the twelve outstanding reasons why the arrest, trial and conviction of Jesus were illegal.
There was no legal basis for Jesus' arrest because no one had presented a formal charge of any crime; He simply was taken. Moreover, those who went with Judas to have Jesus arrested included the priests and elders--His judges (Luke 22:52)--among whom were the ones who bribed Judas!
Jesus was subjected to a secret preliminary examination at night (John 18:12-14, 19-23), Jewish law permitted only daylight proceedings.
The indictment against Jesus was illegal because the judges themselves brought up the charge without any prior testimony by witnesses. The Jewish court (the Sanhedrin) by law was not allowed to originate charges.
The court illegally proceeded to hold its trial of Jesus before sunrise so no one would be available to testify on His behalf.
The trial began on a day before an annual Sabbath (John 18:28), even though Jewish law did not permit the trial of a capital offense to begin on a Friday or the day before an annual Sabbath. Jesus was arrested and tried on the 14th of Abib, the day before the first annual Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Jesus' trial was concluded in one day. Jewish law says: "If a sentence of death is to be pronounced, it [a criminal case] cannot be concluded before the following day" (Mishna, "Sanhedrin" IV, 1). This was to allow sufficient opportunity for any witnesses in support of the accused to present themselves. Jesus' trial was conducted in private and completed in less than nine hours!
Two false witnesses charged Jesus with saying He would destroy the temple made with hands (Mark 14:58); yet He was condemned by the court on another false charge--that of blasphemy. He was condemned on His own testimony (Luke 22:67-71). But according to Jewish law, a person could not be condemned on his own testimony.
The merits of Jesus' defense were not considered. Despite Deuteronomy 13:14, the high priest did not "inquire, and make search, and ask diligently" to see whether Jesus' statement was blasphemous. The law in the Misha says: "The judges shall weigh the matter in the sincerity of their conscience" ("Sanhedrin" IV, 5). Instead, the court pronounced sentence instantly and unanimously!
Those who would have voted against condemnation were not at Jesus' trial. Joseph of Arimathaea was a member of the court, yet he was not there (Luke 23:50-51). Jesus' opponents had made sure that only those who hated Him would be there.
The sentence was pronounced in a place forbidden by law. The trial took place at the high priest's house (Luke 22:54). According to the law, a death sentence could be pronounced only in the court's appointed place.
Most of the judges were legally disqualified to try Jesus. Some had bought their way into office, according to Josephus. Also, since they were known enemies of Jesus, Jewish law required that they disqualify themselves so He could be tried by impartial judges.
The court illegally switched the charges from blasphemy to treason before Pilate. Jesus' opponents wanted Him killed, but they did not want to do it themselves. So they charged Him with treason (Luke 23:2)--a Roman crime--so the Romans would be responsible for His death. No evidence was presented (John 18:29-30). Pilate, after a brief interview, saw that Jesus was not guilty (John 18:38, 19; Matthew 27:18). Fearing the crowd, however, he allowed the crucifixion of an innocent man. Pilate did not even pronounce Him guilty; he merely turned Him over to the soldiers.
What a mockery of justice this trial was! All this illegality, in addition to His crucifixion, Jesus willingly suffered to pay the penalty of our sins in our stead! http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/twelve-reasons-why-arrest-conviction-of-jesus-was-illegal.html
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| Aug 29, 2009 @ 3:59 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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Kenyan's FOJ want Jesus's conviction overturned in court
A CASE on behalf of Jesus Christ has come knocking on Kenya's High Court door, lodged by a fervent Christian group that wants his conviction declared null and void and his crucifixion illegal.
Though cases to right historical wrongs are far from unusual around the world, Kenya's Friends of Jesus (FOJ) has reached back two millennia in what may redefine the quest for closure.
The petition w More..as filed on Monday with the court registrar, raising a novel set of legal quandaries - not the least of which involves the statute of limitations and whether the high court has jurisdiction over the Son of God.
It was not certain when a ruling would be handed down.
But FOJ actually "might have a right in court because the issues raised touch on human rights and the high court has unlimited powers on that line,'' high court spokesman Dola Indindis said.
Little is known about FOJ, which does not proselytise and is reticent about its numbers, saying they cannot be counted in figures but in "the many who are ready to heed the Jesus teaching and be his friend".
It is a Nairobi group that includes lawyers and wealthy businessmen who view their worldly fortune in this east African country where half the population lives below the poverty line as a gift from God.
They want "the court to declare Jesus's trial null and void ... because the (ancient) court that convicted him was not properly constituted, the prosecutors violated the law of the time and the trial was a sham", Mr Indindis said.
The FOJ's lawyer Humprey Odanga said Jesus's crucifixion was a wrongful punishment for a trial based on charges of "blaspheming the Holy Spirit'' and should be corrected by modern law.
The case has triggered a buzz in Kenyan legal circles that sounds at times stranger than fiction, with Kenyan attorneys conceding that - in pure legal terms - the FOJ's complaint is legitimate but disagreeing on whether it is admissible in Kenyan courts.
Nairobi constitutional lawyer Albert Kuloba said the "FOJ should have filed it in the International Criminal Court (in The Hague) which has the mandate to hear that case".
His reason? "The Kenyan courts do not have jurisdiction because the 'course of action' never arose within its jurisdiction"
And "even if they have jurisdiction, the application is time-barred".
The FOJ is determined.
"We need the court to clarify, for the record, that Jesus was not a criminal. He advocated for the rule of law,'' one member said.
"Do you mean to worship a convicted criminal?''
And the group has carefully laid out its case.
Under the Torah, or Jewish law based notably on the Biblical Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy, if a man blasphemes the Holy Spirit he must be stoned to death, Mr Odanga said.
Under Roman law that prevailed alongside the Jewish code at the time, crucifixion was the sentence for robbery, treason, rape and crimes against the emperor.
According to religious historians and the Bible, the Great Sanhedrin, the highest council of the ancient Jews, charged Jesus with blasphemy but Judea's Roman governor Pontius Pilate famously "washed his hands'' of the case.
He turned Jesus over to the high priests and the crowds, who responded: "Crucify him.''
For Mr Odanga, this punishment was a violation - not only did the Romans acquit him but the Jewish sentence for blasphemy was stoning, not crucifixion.
"We are going to the Kenyan court to set the record straight,'' the FOJ lawyer said.
"Jesus was lynched by Jewish mobs. That was illegal. It was abuse of office, malicious prosecution, fabrication of evidence, judicial misconduct and goes against the principle of natural justice.'' http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f18_1188445729
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| Aug 29, 2009 @ 9:04 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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yashaenka
Posts: 10,289
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Hmmm then I wonder why the pope issued a apologetic to the Jews saying it was never the intention of the church to persecute Jews.
Although if you read actual WWII you will find the church was complicit and turned a blind eye knowingly to the persecution of the Jews by Germany.
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| Aug 29, 2009 @ 9:08 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 14,766
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 .......what is next... petitioning the courts to declare that santa claus was defamed by the north pole cult...?
Angel...you know better...
the "washing of his hands " was where PP said.. it is not Rome's business nor concern...and that the "people" could do as they wanted here.....''( it has been suggested that his reasoning was that if he interceded ...there would have been riots..)
besides..wasn't the Crucifixion ..Part of "God's plan" and didn't Jesus forgive them too??
why ( not you here..) bring up this part of the past...as..does it really matter one way or another?
what is scary is how the extremists are wanting to rewrite history..
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| Aug 29, 2009 @ 11:48 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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southernlass
Posts: 2,989
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Gallows, if you wouldn't mind, could you perhaps elaborate on your feelings of what and who "the extremists" are?
I realize that you probably have a definition that is specific to you. I was just curious about your use of the term.
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| Aug 30, 2009 @ 8:44 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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yashaenka
Posts: 10,289
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Are not those who say his conviction was based on Roman law by he claiming to be King of the Jews which was a crime punishable by death?
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| Aug 30, 2009 @ 4:03 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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Luke 23:
1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
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| Aug 30, 2009 @ 4:38 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 9,100
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See, this is why capital punishment is so wrong. Exoneration of the deceased is rarely a comfort to them, posthumously... 
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| Aug 31, 2009 @ 10:07 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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yashaenka
Posts: 10,289
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Illegal is a sick bird. 
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| Oct 10, 2009 @ 7:22 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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kjac
Posts: 8,163
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Wouldn't you have to be able to verify someone's existence in a court of law before you could have a possible conviction of a possible person overturned?
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| Oct 10, 2009 @ 7:38 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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yashaenka
Posts: 10,289
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There was no legal basis for Jesus' arrest because no one had presented a formal charge of any crime; He simply was taken. Moreover, those who went with Judas to have Jesus arrested included the priests and elders--His judges (Luke 22:52)--among whom were the ones who bribed Judas! There is no Roman records of this although records exist for others in his time that committed the same type of crime.
No records, no crime so it is a mute point as to whether it was legal or not!
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| Oct 10, 2009 @ 2:41 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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There is no Roman records of this although records exist for others in his time that committed the same type of crime.
No records, no crime so it is a mute point as to whether it was legal or not!
Tacitus was a Roman Senator and was a Roman Historian in the 1st Century:
Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, and the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. (Annals 15.44)
Justin Martyr in his First Apology, twice documents that Jesus' crucifiction is recorded in Roman official records of the "Acts of Pilate".
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| Oct 10, 2009 @ 3:10 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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uncrazy
Posts: 2,618
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Angel54 offers...
Justin Martyr in his First Apology, twice documents that Jesus' crucifiction is recorded in Roman official records of the "Acts of Pilate".
Justin Martyr may have written of the crucifixion btween 100-165AD, but a reference to the Acts of Pilate would be difficult. Scholars place the Acts of Pilate as 4th Century, no earlier than middle second century. Acts of Pilate is part of the Gospel of Nicodemus, popular in the middle ages, deemed apocrypha (useful, but not divinely inspired...definitely not canonical).
If we start to use too much apocrypha, we can go to the Acts of Peter to read that Pilate was innocent in the death of Jesus.
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| Oct 10, 2009 @ 9:05 PM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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Justin Martyr may have written of the crucifixion btween 100-165AD, but a reference to the Acts of Pilate would be difficult. Scholars place the Acts of Pilate as 4th Century, no earlier than middle second century. Acts of Pilate is part of the Gospel of Nicodemus, popular in the middle ages, deemed apocrypha (useful, but not divinely inspired...definitely not canonical).
The Acts themselves were added later to the original Report of Pilate to the Emperor Claudius. This has been well known to the scholars. Meanwhile we still search for the original Book of Enoch and Book of Josher.
If we start to use too much apocrypha, we can go to the Acts of Peter to read that Pilate was innocent in the death of Jesus. Absolutely! That is one of God's purposes to turn to the biblical scriptures if belief and gain his grace upon faith.
But outside records that are available to us upon survival, we easily can turn to Tiberius and read his exchanged letters with Caligula, who was brother to Nero. More extensive sources can be depended upon Philo of Alexandria and Pliny the Younger to Trajan as well as Josephus' Jewish Antiquities and The Jewish War writings, and Tacitus' Annals.
Pilate had already was appointed being Governor of Judaea, was pushing Tiberius' buttons before Jesus came along. Tiberius wrote to Pilate demanding him to remove the gilded shields and effigies he set up at the Jeruselem temple and have them sent to Caesarea at the temple of Augustus. Pilate was in great fear that Tiberius would send an Embassy Army to Galilee. Tiberius was too clever to send anti-Semite to Judaea. Pilate had already accepted Judaism and Paganism as equals.
We see this demonstrated in his coinage, which lacks Roman portraits, which he had to mint himself in Jeruselem with one side having the Simpulum and the other side the 3 ears of barley of it's first appearance in a Roman coin. (Lis-29 A.D.). We also have his coinage with the shepard's staff on one side and the Laurel wreath on the other (Liz-30 A.D. & Lih-31 A.D.). These coins were in cirrulation for 35 years. Pilate used the Jeruselem treasury to build the Aqueduct that Herod the Great demanded to be built for water supply to the city, but Pilate used the unfinished Aqueduct to bring in his army that were Samarian recruits. This great construction completion was then handed over to Herod Agrippa in 41 and was completed in 44.
Pilate was clever as well, the High Priest Caiaphas was trying Jesus for "treason", which Pilate did wash his hands (a jewish custom upon a pronounce of not guilty), and handed Jesus over to the Jews and chose between him and Barabbas as a sacrifice for the Passover that would replace the long historical yearly sacrificing of the Lamb. Also once per year at Passover, the jewish tradition was to free a prisoner...this also comes from the scapegoat of the OT. that would be let loose in the wilderness that would carry the Israelites sins.
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| Oct 11, 2009 @ 1:20 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,008
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What we tend to overlook is the ongoing discoveries that seem to out date the one previously thought. For example...recently was found OT scriptures that outdate the Dead Sea Scrolls by 400 years:
http://www.bib-arch.org/press-ketef-hinnom.asp
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early%20History%20-%20Archaeology/Archaeological%20Sites%20in%20Israel%20-%20Jerusalem%20-%20Silve
Adding...
Back to Pilate...Here's paper that offers much information about Pilate's history along with the interesting discovery of the Pilate Stone Inscription found in Caesarea where he was living while Governor of Judaea:
http://www.bible-history.com/empires/pilate.html
John 19:
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
There's been much debate about a place called Nazareth where Jesus once lived...but, the "Edict of Caesar" carved in stone that was found in Nazareth tell us much more of details at the time of Christ's death.
It's a lengthy paper, but one can truly learn more about the Roman and Jewish laws within this ancient small village called Nazareth through the errected rescript stone:
http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2009/07/22/The-Nazareth-Inscription-Proof-of-the-Resurrection-of-Christ.aspx
I can't help but think that possibly the 2 thieves that were crucified with Jesus, might have been tomb breakers and tomb robbers. This was a very serious problem as we know from ancient tombs in the past that were robbed in Egypt and other countries. For this type of crime, per the Edict of Caesar, was capital punishment...
Taking a walk back through time in Caesarea...
http://www.biblewalks.com/sites/Caesarea.html
Although Nazareth was about 2 hour walk from Casesarea cutting through the mountainess range and the valleys...possibly the building of this minature Rome by Herod the Great needed much employment. Jesus and his supposed Father Joseph, could very well have worked there and needed to speak Greek dialect in order to communicate with the Roman architects. Carpenters in those days were also knowledgeable of masonry, for when the Solomon temple was built, the workers had to know both trades to build this temple.
Herod the Great had also built the stone enclosure of the Patriarchs in Hebron, which is on the west bank of Jeruselem...
http://www.thirdtemple.com/Patriarchs2/gallery.htm
[Edited on 10/11/2009 3:05 AM]
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| Oct 12, 2009 @ 11:26 AM |
Arrest, Conviction And Execution of Jesus was Illegal |
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yashaenka
Posts: 10,289
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The Lost City
The Gospels tell us that Jesus's home town was the 'City of Nazareth' ('polis Natzoree'):
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a CITY of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
(Luke1.26,27)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the CITY of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David:
(Luke 2.3,4)
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a CITY called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
(Matthew 2.22,23)
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own CITY Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
(Luke 2.39,40)
The gospels do not tell us much about this 'city' – it has a synagogue, it can scare up a hostile crowd (prompting JC's famous "prophet rejected in his own land" quote), and it has a precipice – but the city status of Nazareth is clearly established, at least according to that source of nonsense called the Bible.
However when we look for historical confirmation of this hometown of a god – surprise, surprise! – no other source confirms that the place even existed in the 1st century AD.
• Nazareth is not mentioned even once in the entire Old Testament. The Book of Joshua (19.10,16) – in what it claims is the process of settlement by the tribe of Zebulon in the area – records twelve towns and six villages and yet omits any 'Nazareth' from its list.
• The Talmud, although it names 63 Galilean towns, knows nothing of Nazareth, nor does early rabbinic literature.
• St Paul knows nothing of 'Nazareth'. Rabbi Solly's epistles (real and fake) mention Jesus 221 times, Nazareth not at all.
• No ancient historian or geographer mentions Nazareth. It is first noted at the beginning of the 4th century.
'Never heard of the place' – Josephus
In his histories, Josephus has a lot to say about Galilee (an area of barely 900 square miles). During the first Jewish war, in the 60s AD, Josephus led a military campaign back and forth across the tiny province. Josephus mentions 45 cities and villages of Galilee – yet Nazareth not at all.
Josephus does, however, have something to say about Japha (Yafa, Japhia), a village just one mile to the southwest of Nazareth where he himself lived for a time (Life 52).
A glance at a topographical map of the region shows that Nazareth is located at one end of a valley, bounded on three sides by hills. Natural access to this valley is from the southwest.
Before the first Jewish war, Japha was of a reasonable size. We know it had an early synagogue, destroyed by the Romans in 67 AD (Revue Biblique 1921, 434f). In that war, it's inhabitants were massacred (Wars 3, 7.31). Josephus reports that 15,000 were killed by Trajan's troops. The survivors – 2,130 woman and children – were carried away into captivity. A one-time active city was completely and decisively wiped out.
Now where on earth did the 1st century inhabitants of Japha bury their dead? In the tombs further up the valley!
With Japha's complete destruction, tomb use at the Nazareth site would have ended. The unnamed necropolis today lies under the modern city of Nazareth.
At a later time – as pottery and other finds indicate(see below) – the Nazareth site was re-occupied. This was after the Bar Kochba revolt of 135 AD and the general Jewish exodus from Judea to Galilee. The new hamlet was based on subsistence farming and was quite unrelated to the previous tomb usage by the people of Japha.
None of this would matter of course if, rather like at the nearby 'pagan' city of Sepphoris, we could stroll through the ruins of 1st century bath houses, villas, theatres etc. Yet no such ruins exist.Nazareth
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