Pilate
PONTIUS, a Roman ruler, who became governor of Judæa, A. D. 26.
He commanded in that country 10 years.
The Jews brought Jesus Christ before Pilate, who, perceiving that envy and malice occasioned their charges, would have scourged the prisoner and dismissed him, but being threatened with the wrath of Cæsar, Pilate delivered Jesus, whom he pronounced innocent, to be crucified. He is said to have subsequently treated the Samaritans with great cruelty, for which he was recalled by Tiberius, and banished to Gaul, where he slew himself, A. D. 37 or 38.