Pilate

Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator (governor) of Judea, appointed approximately A.D. 26 in the twelfth year of Tiberius. He is the Roman official who presided over the trial and ordered the crucifixion of Jesus. His governance was marked by provocations of Jewish sensibilities — introducing Roman standards bearing the emperor's image into Jerusalem, appropriating temple funds for an aqueduct, and slaughtering Galileans whose blood he "mingled with their sacrifices" (Luke 13:1).

All four Gospels narrate the trial before Pilate, which agrees on his finding Jesus innocent of any capital charge and his eventual capitulation to the crowd's demand for crucifixion. John's Gospel elaborates the most extensive dialogue, with Pilate's famous question "What is truth?" (John 18:38) and his ironic inscription "King of the Jews" on the cross (John 19:19–22). The Apostles' Creed preserves his name: Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate." Josephus and Tacitus both mention him, the latter confirming his execution of Christ (Annals 15.44). He was recalled to Rome c. A.D. 36 after a massacre of Samaritans.