WHO WERE THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED JESUS?
Annas' personal fortune from 'skimming' the income from sacrificial animals was over 2.5 billion pieces of silver; his son-in-law, Joseph Caiaphas, broke twelve laws in bringing Jesus before him. Herod Antipas, second son of Herod the Great, was a Rome-educated playboy in charge of a small section of a third class imperial province - a man whose rash promise led to the beheading of John the Baptist. And Pontius Pilate? Pilate was an anti-Semitic politician more intent on cash-flow for building projects than justice. These were the people assembled to give Jesus a fair trial!
RARELY have we been provided such an open look into the character issues related to the judges and their decision-making processes that led to the crucifixion of Jesus. John Gilmore has presented a fascinating story of the moral failing of Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod. The book is worthwhile for the historical information alone, but the power of the book is found in the personal reflection that is certain to happen. This is an important book that should be widely read.' David S. Dockery, President, Union University, Tennessee
'GILMORE'S work is imaginative, informed, wise, and searching. He canvasses the Bible and scholarly secondary sources to reconstruct a plausible understanding of Jesus' trials. Gilmore clarifies many conundrums and shows again that the New Testament accounts are empirically compelling - and spiritually suggestive for readers with ears to hear. I know of no better biographical approach to the trials of Jesus.' Bob Yarborough, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois
'DR. GILMORE is not content simply to detail the legal maneuverings. He seeks to pierce through the layers of litigious wrappings to find the core motivations of those who 'tried' Christ. It warms this lawyer's heart that with Gilmore's careful exposition, Christ's trials, bad ones at that, prove a rich source of exhortation.' MEIRWYN I. WALTERS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW, GORDON COLLEGE, MASSACHUSETTS
About John Gilmore:
DR. JOHN GILMORE is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a speaker at Conferences, Church Seminars and Spurgeon's School of Theology, London.
