My impression of Pilate, from reading Scripture and Josephus, is that he was a cynical, crooked politician, thoroughly corrupt and heartless. Sort of like Hillary Clinton, in other words, except that Pilate was actually competent.
That such a man realized that Jesus was innocent is amazing. That he didn’t have the courage to stand up to the crowd and to the Jewish leaders that threatened to trash him with his Roman masters is exactly how a corrupt politician would act today.
Not really. He had screwed up a couple of prior postings and was sent to Palestine as a last chance. While he was in Palestine one of his most influential protectors back in the Senate died leaving him with little back up in that body. That is why when the Sanhedrin came to him and threatened to go to Rome with their accusations he threw in the towel and ordered the crucifixion.
***My impression of Pilate, from reading Scripture and Josephus, is that he was a cynical, crooked politician,***
Look very carefully at the political football that Jesus became between the High Priest, Herod and Pilate. Soon Pilate had the JEWISH PEOPLE yelling “WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!”
And to ad to their misery and their tie to Rome, he had the placard above Jesus written to read..
“THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS”.
Not “This is Jesus who CLAIMS to be the King of the Jews”.
Having grown up in a pagan religion where the gods routinely assumed human form Pilate would likely have been very superstitious about killing one of them- which could explain his reticence to order Jesus’ execution and his unwillingness to accept blame for it. If he had been truly cynical and corrupt he would have easily ordered Jesus’ execution without a second thought.
And in the end Jesus was going to be crucified in order to fulfill his role no matter what Pilate did. When Peter tried to prevent it Jesus told him “get thee behind me Satan”. The outcome was already preordained.