Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor (prefect) of the province of Judea from about 26 to 36/37 AD, serving under Emperor Tiberius. He is most famously known in the Bible for presiding over the trial of Jesus Christ and ordering his crucifixion
. In the New Testament, Pilate appears primarily in the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as the official who judged Jesus. The Gospels portray Pilate as somewhat reluctant to execute Jesus, with Luke describing him as finding no guilt in Jesus and calling the charges against him "baseless" (Luke 23:14, 22). Pilate's wife also warned him not to have anything to do with Jesus, whom she considered innocent, after suffering a troubling dream (Matthew 27:19). Despite his hesitation, Pilate ultimately gave in to the pressure of the crowd and religious leaders, releasing Barabbas, a prisoner, and condemning Jesus to crucifixion (Matthew 27:20–26; Mark 15:15)
. John's Gospel provides additional details about the trial, including a philosophical exchange where Pilate asks Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38), highlighting Pilate's confusion and the tension between political authority and spiritual truth
. Pilate also ordered the inscription placed on Jesus' cross, stating "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," which caused complaints from Jewish leaders, but Pilate refused to change it (John 19:19-22)
. Outside the Gospels, Pilate is mentioned by historical sources such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Philo of Alexandria, and archaeological evidence like the "Pilate Stone" confirms his historical role as prefect of Judea
. In summary, Pontius Pilate was the Roman official who, despite personal misgivings, authorized Jesus' crucifixion, making him a pivotal figure in the biblical narrative of Jesus' passion and death
