Chapter 5: Pilate

They brought Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Praetorium, the headquarters of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. The religious leaders stayed outside in the street.

Pilate came out to meet them, heard the accusation, and took Jesus inside to question him privately.

PILATE“Are you the king of the Jews?”— John 18:33

JESUS“You have said so.”— Matthew 27:11

Pilate went back out and told the crowd he found no basis for a charge against Jesus. While he was still on the judge's seat, a message arrived from his wife.

PILATE'S WIFE“Have nothing to do with that innocent man. I had a dream about him last night and it troubled me greatly.”— Matthew 27:19

She was warning her husband clearly. Jesus was innocent and she knew it. Pilate remembered the Passover custom — each year the governor released one prisoner chosen by the crowd. He offered them Jesus.

The crowd demanded Barabbas. Barabbas was a known insurrectionist who had committed murder during an uprising.

PILATE“What shall I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”— Matthew 27:22

CROWD“Crucify him!”— Matthew 27:22

PILATE“Why? What has he done wrong?”— Matthew 27:23

The crowd only shouted louder. Pilate took water and washed his hands publicly in front of them all.

PILATE“I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility.”— Matthew 27:24

It was a gesture. Responsibility cannot be washed off with water. Pilate knew exactly what he was doing.

He released Barabbas and handed Jesus over to his soldiers.

Elsewhere in the city, Judas had returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, declared he had betrayed innocent blood, and gone out and hanged himself. The priests used the money to buy a potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. Matthew records that this fulfilled a prophecy from Scripture.