Antonia Fortress

So this is the Via Dolorosa, the beginning of the Via Dolorosa.

The procession begins here at the Antonia Fortress.

The procession then leads down through the streets of Jerusalem, passes under this arch,

We're going

They're going through this ceremony with the big golden lab stands.

And right on the northwest side of the temple is the Antonia Fortress.

It was built and named after Mark Antony, and it houses the Russian garrison who built it there with four towers that can look down upon the temple, and they can always see what's going on, and if there's any riot, they will come in to immediately stop the riot, all right? And so in that context, with the towers of the Atonia Fortress looming over them, They respond, we are Abraham's offspring and have never been enslaved to anyone.

How is it that you say you shall become free? What a statement with the Roman soldiers looking over your shoulder.

The temple doors were shut to prevent defilement by the murder.

The castle mentioned in verse 34 was the Antonia Fortress, a tower that housed the Roman military.

It overlooked the temple and was connected to it by two flights of stairs so soldiers could quickly go down to the temple area to maintain order.

It had been important to Paul to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost .

That's just walking paths and things.

And then if you go further north, you'll see some Antonia Fortress there.

Okay, so you're saying it could spill off into that green area at the top of the picture?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

That's all flat across the top of that, all the way to the Antonia Fortress.

So, so on the other side of that red line is, they could keep building out that direction.

Correct.

Where in Jerusalem? Oh, I'm so glad you asked.

Rome built the Antonia Fortress right next to, adjacent to, the temple complex.

Nothing could be built there.

taller than the temple in Jerusalem.

It was to be the highest building in Jerusalem as a representation that God was the ultimate authority who oversaw all of his people.

So Rome came in and built the Antonia Fortress right next to the temple and made it overlook the temple.

What do you think Rome was trying to say? Your God is under our subjection.

And they were constantly waiting, watching for any unrest to put it down immediately and violently.

That's just walking paths and things.

And then if you go further north, you'll see some Antonia Fortress there.

Okay, so you're saying it could spill off into that green area at the top of the picture?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

That's all flat across the top of that, all the way to the Antonia Fortress.

So, so on the other side of that red line is, they could keep building out that direction?

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So they take Paul in and he asks the Roman commander if he can address the crowd.

So he's going up the steps to Antonia Fortress.

He stops and says, can I address the crowd? This is his final parting message to this crowd.

What does he do? He gives his testimony.

And so, with the break of dawn, the second part of the conspiracy began, the political game.

Jesus was dragged through the narrow streets to the Antonia Fortress, where the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, resided.

A cold, pragmatic man, Pilate viewed the world with cynical eyes.

He knew how to play with power and public opinion.