The Shadow of Nazareth Jesus. Both Barrabas and Jesus are sentenced to die by crucifixion, but Jewish custom allows the release of a prisoner on the day of the Passover feast. Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, has the authority to decide whether to free Barabbas or Jesus in honor of the Passover. However, Pilate is unwilling to make the decision himself, so he lets a crowd that has gathered before him choose who is to live. The crowd chooses Barabbas, who is set free, and Jesus, who is innocent of any wrongdoing, dies on the cross. Following the crucifixion,
Jesus, King of the Jews Pilate. In , Jesus confirms to Pilate that he is the King of the Jews and says nothing further. In , he hints that the King accusation did not originate with Pilate but with "others" and, in , he states: "My kingdom is not of this world". However, Jesus does not directly deny being the King of the Jews. In the New Testament, Pilate writes "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Judeans" as a sign to be affixed to the cross of Jesus. states that the Jews told Pilate: "Do not write King of the Jews" but instead write that