Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. (Luke 23:13-15)

Pilate Knew Jesus Was Innocent

Pontius Pilate was the sixth in order of the Roman procurators of Judea (A.D. 26-36). He was a rather infamous ruler of no known Roman family with no exceptional credentials to make him stand out among the Roman rulers. Being pushed to Palestine was the backwaters of leadership away from the pleasures of Rome. He was a pleasure-loving and corrupt ruler, and he hated the Jews. It did not bother his conscience to kill them in any number. The governor had murdered Jews from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. He was as corrupt as his colleagues.

Pilate was governor when the Jewish council brought Jesus to the Roman court. The Jews accused Jesus of being an evil-doer, and the governor told them to deal with Him amongst themselves. They insisted Pilate try Jesus because they wanted Him put to death. Jesus was accused of perverting the nation, forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and calling Himself a King. On the surface, these were charges worthy of death.

After questioning the man from Nazareth, Pilate returns to the Jews, telling them he found no fault in Him and that no crime was committed. The people cried out to Pilate that Jesus was a troublemaker who needed to be punished. Hearing Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem then. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate with no judgment. Pilate calls the chief priests and rulers of the people together, asking them if it would be possible to release Jesus back to them in accordance with the custom of the day. During Passover, it was customary to release a prisoner. Pilate wanted to release Jesus. He tells the leaders after examination that he could find nothing Jesus had said or done was worthy of death.

The rulers cried out the more for Jesus to die. Pilate’s wife warns him against having anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth. He desires to release Jesus, knowing He is innocent. The rulers demanded the death of Jesus. Pilate again says he found no cause of death in Him. He tells the crowd he will scourge Jesus and release him. But they cried out the more, “Crucify Him.” Pilate scourges Jesus, thinking this will change the minds of the people. Presenting Jesus in a mocking robe and crown, Pilate believes he can release Jesus. It does not work. The people demanded the death of Jesus.

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail against the tumult rising before him, he washed his hands before the multitude, declaring his innocence of the blood of the righteous man, Jesus. He then condemned Jesus to death and delivered Him to the Centurion in charge of crucifixion. Jesus was taken to Golgotha and nailed to a cross. An innocent man – the most innocent man that has ever lived – was killed because of the hatred of His countrymen and the cowardice of the Roman rulers.

Pilate would fall into disgrace before Caesar Caligula a few years later. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, Pilate, disheartened over his misfortunes, committed suicide. “Fear of man, the Jews’ accusations, and the emperor’s frown, and consequent loss of place and power, led him to condemn Him whom he knew to be innocent and desired to deliver” (Fausset’s Bible Dictionary). Death opened the eyes of Pilate to the man whom he condemned to die, knowing Jesus was not guilty of death. Sadly, Pilate faced eternal death for rejecting Jesus.