"The Dream of Pilate's Wife"

Matthew 27:19: While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.

The spiritual battle that was going on beneath the surface during the trials and crucifixion does not receive much attention, but I would assume it was acute. All the forces of evil were launched out against Jesus during this time. One indicator of that spiritual battle may be found in verse 19. Dreams were a popular method of divine revelation in Scripture, but there is no indication of this as being a divine revelation. Since the incident is mentioned in Scripture, it is significant.

Pilate did not need any help in determining that Jesus was innocent and that He should be released. His wife's warning only increased that fear that he was dealing with a supernatural individual. I believe that Matthew dwells on this to shame the Jewish nation that should have been spiritually ready to receive the Messiah. Instead, here is a career politician in an outpost of the Roman Empire who has more spiritual depth to perceive the innocence and the extraordinary nature of Christ. Unlike the chief priests, Pilate never challenged the validity of what Jesus said regarding Himself.

Did Pilate become a believer? The Scripture is silent. Church tradition has made a saint of Claudia Procula, the wife of Pilate. Legend says she was a Jewish proselyte who became a believer in Jesus. Again, this is nice, but there is no confirmation in the Scripture record. She sent a message to her husband who was holding court soon after daybreak. The dream of which she spoke would have occurred before Jesus was brought to Pilate. We are not given Pilate's reaction to her message, but can only surmize that he looked for other reasons not to crucify Jesus. In calling Jesus a "just Man" she is defending the innocence of Christ against the charges of the Jewish leaders.