Ruler living at the time of the New Testament
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus and ultimately ordered his crucifixion.
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Also known as Pontius
Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor (prefect) of Judea during the time of Jesus' ministry and crucifixion (Luk.3.1). He is most known for his role in the trial and execution of Jesus, as recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18-19).
When Jesus was brought before Pilate by the Jewish leaders, who accused him of claiming to be the king of the Jews, Pilate questioned Jesus and found no fault in him (Jhn.18.29-38). However, faced with the insistence of the Jewish leaders and the growing crowd, Pilate ultimately gave in to their demands and ordered Jesus to be crucified (Mat.27.24; Mrk.15.15; Luk.23.24; Jhn.19.16).
Pilate is portrayed as a reluctant participant in Jesus' death, attempting to release him but ultimately succumbing to political pressure (Jhn.19.12). He is also depicted as a somewhat cynical and world-weary figure, as seen in his famous question to Jesus, "What is truth?" (Jhn.18.38).
Pilate's involvement in Jesus' crucifixion is also mentioned in the Book of Acts, where the early Christian leaders affirm that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Act.3.13; 4.27; 13.28). In 1Ti.6.13, Paul refers to Jesus' good confession before Pontius Pilate.
Part of: The Herods · Bethany and the Women Around Jesus · The High-Priestly Family · Roman Officials
Only Luke records Pilate sending Jesus to Herod Antipas in Jerusalem, where Antipas mocked him. Luke adds that Herod and Pilate became friends that day, having been enemies before.
Sources: Scripture
Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council and secret disciple, asked Pilate for the body. Nicodemus came with about seventy-five pounds of spices. Both belonged to the council that condemned Jesus.
Sources: Scripture
John says Jesus was first sent to Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Pilate. Jesus tells Pilate the one who delivered him has the greater sin.
Sources: Scripture
Luke notes Pilate and Antipas were enemies before Jesus' appearance before Herod. Luke 13:1 mentions Pilate mixing Galileans' blood with their sacrifices, which may be the source of the tension.
Sources: Scripture
Pilate offered the crowd a choice between Barabbas, a notable prisoner, and Jesus. Barabbas was released, and Pilate scourged Jesus and handed him over.
Sources: Scripture
More background: search Wikipedia ↗
(armed with a spear), Pontius. Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator of Judea, and under him our Lord worked, suffered and died, as we learn not only from Scripture, but from Tacitus (Ann. xv. 44). was appointed A.D. 25-6, in the twelfth year of Tiberius. His arbitrary administration nearly drove the Jews to insurrection on two or three occasions. One of his first acts was to remove the headquarters of the army from Caesarea to Jerusalem. The soldiers of course took with them their standards, bearing the image of the emperor, into the holy city. No previous governor had ventured on such an outrage. The people poured down in crowds to Caesarea, where the procurator was then residing, and besought him to remove the images. After five days of discussion he gave the signal to some concealed soldiers to surround the petitioners and put them to death unless they ceased to trouble him; but this only strengthened their determination, and they declared themselves ready rather to submit to death than forego their resistance to aa idolatrous innovation. Pilate then yielded, and the standards were by his orders brought down to Caesarea. His slaughter of certain Galileans, (Luke 13:1) led to some remarks from our Lord on the connection between sin and calamity. It must have occurred at some feast at Jerusalem, in the outer court of the temple. It was the custom for the procurators to reside at Jerusalem during the great feasts, to preserve order, and accordingly, at the time of our Lord’s last Passover, Pilate was occupying his official residence in Herod’s palace. The history of his condemnation of our Lord is familiar to all. We learn from Josephus that Pilate’s anxiety to avoid giving offence to Caesar did not save him from political disaster. The Samaritans were unquiet…
PI'LATE, John 19:1, or PON'TIUS PI'LATE, Matt 26:2, was appointed procurator of Judaea, a.d. 29. The proper residence of the procurator was Caesarea, but it was customary for him to go to Jerusalem at the great festivals for the purpose of securing order and safety in the city, and thus it happened that Pilate was present in Jerusalem during the Passover when our Lord suffered death. The chief duty of the procurator respected the revenues, but in a minor territory, such as Judaea, which was dependent on a larger contiguous province (Syria), the procurator was the head of the whole administration, and held the highest military and judicial authority; and thus Pilate became the judge of our Lord. The administration of Pilate was extremely offensive to the Jews, and more than once he drove them to the very verge of insurrection. He seems to have nourished a special contempt for them and taken pleasure in showing it, but when, by cruelty and perfidy, he had brought them into a rage, he generally became frightened and yielded. Having transferred the military headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem, he sent the standards with the images of the emperor into the city. As soon as this became known the Jews rushed in great multitudes down to Caesarea, and demanded to have the standards removed, because, as idols, they defiled the Holy City. Pilate permitted the multitude to be surrounded by soldiers, and told them to disperse quietly or else they would be massacred. But when the Jews declared that they would die rather than tolerate the images of the emperor within the walls of Jerusalem, Pilate was frightened and yielded. The principal feature in the character of Pilate was weakness, and it became piteously apparent during the trial of our Lord. When Jesus was arraigned before…
PI'LATE, John 19:1, or PON'TIUS PI'LATE, Matt 26:2, was appointed procurator of Judaea, a.d. 29. The proper residence of the procurator was Caesarea, but it was customary for him to go to Jerusalem at the great festivals for the purpose of securing order and safety in the city, and thus it happened that Pilate was present in Jerusalem during the Passover when our Lord suffered death. The chief duty of the procurator respected the revenues, but in a minor territory, such as
Judaea, which was dependent on a larger contiguous province (Syria), the procurator was the head of the whole administration, and held the highest military and judicial authority; and thus Pilate became the judge of our Lord. The administration of Pilate was extremely offensive to the Jews, and more than once he drove them to the very verge of insurrection. He seems to have nourished a special contempt for them and taken pleasure in showing it, but when, by cruelty and perfidy, he had brought them into a rage, he generally became frightened and yielded. Having transferred the military headquarters from Caesarea to Jerusalem, he sent the standards with the images of the emperor into the city. As soon as this became known the Jews rushed in great multitudes down to Caesarea, and demanded to have the standards removed, because, as idols, they defiled the Holy City. Pilate permitted the multitude to be surrounded by soldiers, and told them to disperse quietly or else they would be massacred. But when the Jews declared that they would die rather than tolerate the images of the emperor within the walls of Jerusalem, Pilate was frightened and yielded. The principal feature in the character of Pilate was weakness, and it became piteously apparent during the trial of our Lord. When Jesus was arraigned before…
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
53 verses in 6 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G4091
They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
Then Pilate asked Him, “Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?”
So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this manʼs blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.
“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”
But to Pilateʼs amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”
“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.
So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.
That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.
Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,
So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.
He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.
Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”
When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid,
So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”
From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha.
At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.