阅读经文 

犹大地的罗马巡抚彼拉多，是历史上一个可怜的人。尽管他犹疑不决是否应当判耶稣死罪，但碍于群众要钉耶稣十字架，彼拉多结果选择就范。

使徒信经为什么特别提到耶稣“在本丢彼拉多手下”受难呢？这句话指出，耶稣是在当时掌权的人手下被定罪、受苦和受死的。彼拉多代表罗马政府，虽然耶稣是完全清白无罪的，彼拉多的判决使耶稣被定罪和受苦这件事，成为一件有历史证据的事实。

我们每一个人都需要一位救主，因为我们都犯了罪，应该为罪受罚。在为我们成就救恩的过程中，神以祂不可思议的的智慧，使用了有瑕疵的罗马政府。因着“在本丢彼拉多手下”受难，耶稣亲自担当了我们该受的刑罚。藉着祂的受难，耶稣带给我们神的恩典、以祂自己的义覆庇我们、又因我们与神相交而赐予我们永远的平安和福乐。

因着彼拉多怯懦和错谬的判决，他宣判耶稣要接受残酷的刑罚。然而，因着神的能力和智慧，祂竟然使用了耶稣的受难来救赎我们。这是何等奇妙的恩典和慈爱啊！

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, is a pitiful figure in history. Though he was conflicted about sentencing Jesus to death, Pilate gave in to the mob calling for Jesus to be crucified.

Why does the Apostles’Creed note that Jesus suffered "under Pontius Pilate"? This statement points out the historical fact that Jesus was condemned to suffer and die by the governing authority of that day. Pilate represented the Roman government, and his judgment made Jesus’sentencing and suffering an official event in history, even though Jesus was totally innocent and without sin.

We all need a Savior because we are guilty of sin and deserving of punishment. And in his mysterious wisdom, God used the government of Rome, flawed as it was, in the process of bringing salvation for our sake. By suffering "under Pontius Pilate," Jesus took on himself the condemnation we deserve. And through his suffering Jesus has extended God’s grace to us, covering us with his own righteousness and granting us peace and the blessings of fellowship with God forever.

Through his weak and wrongful judgment, Pilate served Jesus a hideous sentence. But God, through his power and wisdom, used Jesus’suffering to redeem us. What amazing grace and love!