3 Major Events in Pontius Pilate's Life
Some standards [gilt shields] bearing the image of Tiberius, which had been
set up by him in Jerusalem, caused an outbreak which would have ended in a
massacre had not Pilate given way. At a later date Tiberius ordered him to
remove certain gilt shields, which he had set up in Jerusalem in spite of
the remonstrances of the people.
Pontius Pilate Condems Jesus to death.
Jesus Trial before Pilate
11 Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the
King of the Jews?" the governor asked him.
Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say."
12 But when the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations
against him, Jesus remained silent.
13 "Don't you hear their many charges against you?" Pilate demanded.
14 But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's great surprise.
15 Now it was the governor's custom to release one prisoner to the crowd
each year during the Passover celebration--anyone they wanted.
16 This year there was a notorious criminal in prison, a man named Barabbas.
17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them,
"Which one do you want me to release to you--Barabbas, or Jesus who is called
the Messiah?"
18 (He knew very well that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of
envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent
him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone, because I had a terrible
nightmare about him last night."
20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and other leaders persuaded the crowds
to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
21 So when the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me
to release to you?" the crowd shouted back their reply: "Barabbas!"
22 "But if I release Barabbas," Pilate asked them, "what should I do with
Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
And they all shouted, "Crucify him!"
23 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the crowd only roared the louder, "Crucify him!"
24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing.
So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying,
"I am innocent of the blood of this man. The responsibility is yours!"
25 And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his
death--we and our children!"[2]
26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a
lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.
Matthew 27
His rule was brought to an end through trouble which arose in Samaria. An
imposter had given out that it was in his power to discover the sacred vessels
which, as he alleged, had been hidden by Moses on Mount Gerizim, whither armed
Samaritans came in large numbers. Pilate seems to have thought the whole
affair was a blind, covering some other more important design, for he hurried
forces to attack them, and many were slain. They appealed to Vitellius, who
was at that time legate in Syria, saying that nothing political had been intended,
and complaining of Pilate's whole administration. He was summoned to Rome
to answer their charges, but before he could reach the city the Emperor Tiberius
had died. This led to the death of Pontius Pilate