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,
Pontius Pilate Pilate" ("Acta Pilati"). This Epistle or Report of Pilate is also inserted into the Pseudo-Marcellus "Passio sanctorum Petri et Pauli" ("Passion of Saints Peter and Paul"). We thus have it in both Greek and Latin versions. The "Mors Pilati" ("Death of Pilate") legend is a Latin tradition, thus treating Pilate as a monster, not a saint; it is attached usually to the more sympathetic "Gospel of Nicodemus" of Greek origin. The narrative of the "Mors Pilati" set of manuscripts is set in motion by an illness of Tiberius, who sends Volusanius to Judaea to fetch the Christ for a cure.