Introduction

Abstract Long ago, on a spring morning in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate passed judgment on a mysterious preacher. Jesus of Nazareth was disfigured by scourges and nailed to a cross shortly after. He died in agony. The effects of this verdict have reverberated throughout the world. They have shaped two millennia of history. Yet the trial of Jesus remains shrouded in mystery even today. The New Testament Gospels are unclear about what charges Pilate judged. They also portray Pontius Pilate as embracing Jesus’ innocence before having him killed anyway. We are left with more questions than answers. Why did Pontius Pilate condemn a man he believed innocent? What was Jesus’ crime? How should we understand Pilate’s role in Jesus’ execution? What was Pilate’s path to crucifixion? This introduction outlines the range of viewpoints and why they differ so dramatically.