PONTIUS PILATE'S WIFE DREAM

 “While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.'” – Matthew 27:19

Mentioned in the Gospel’s only once, Pontius Pilate’s wife tells the Roman governor she had a dream the night before where she suffered because of Christ and to free Him. Extra-biblical tradition holds her to be named Procla or Claudia.

What was the dream.

Onepious tradition is that, in her dream, Claudia heard the voices of millions of people, in a thousand different languages, repeating in chorus the words, “under Pontius Pilate, under Pontius Pilate, under Pontius Pilate, This are the same words that are repeated in the Nicene creed, a confession of the Catholic faith. It is believed that she later converted to Catholicism.

What was Pilate reaction to the dream.

As the apostle creed confesses. Jesus suffered,was crucified and died under Pontius Pilate, this shows that he did not listen to her. He still continued with the trial though he tried to set Jesus free but the crowd chooses Barabbas a criminal mentioned in all the four Gospels. The Gospel of Matthew calls him a notorious criminal.(Matthew 27:6)

Tradition also has it that Pilate wrote a letter to Herod showing his wife conversation and also shows his repentance.

“Behold, Procla my wife is believing in the visions which appeared unto her, when thou sentest that I should deliver Jesus to the people of Israel, because of the ill-will they had.

And when Procla my wife and the Romans heard these things, they came and told me, weeping; for they also were against him, when they devised the evils which they had done unto him. So that, I also was on the couch of my bed in affliction, and put on a garment of mourning.

I have sinned, O Lord, in that I sat and judged thee, who avengest all in truth. And lo, I know that thou art God, the Son of God, and I beheld thy humanity and not thy divinity. But Herod, with the children of Israel, constrained me to do evil unto thee. Have pity, therefore, upon me, O God of Israel!”

Throughout history, Procla’s dream has been the subject of art, theater, and literature.