“ The Pharisees, at least the leadership, were not actually believers”
Like Paul?
Yours is a very Roman interpretation. There were a ton of devout Pharisees; including plenty who became leaders of the early church.
They’re just not the antagonists in the stories, so they don’t get top billing.
Very unfair to lump them all together.
Jesus’ harshest words were often to the Pharisees
Though Nicodemus was an exception (and there may have been a few more with him)
Paul was not actually a believer until the Damascus Road event
Is there any historical record of Pontius Pilate after the crucifixion? I always thought surely he would come to faith after the resurrection, maybe even see the Risen Jesus.