Pontius Pilate Pilate was "astonished". Pilate appears to have been reluctant to allow the crucifixion of Jesus, finding no fault with him. According to Matthew 27:19, even Pilate's wife spoke to him on Jesus' behalf. According to the gospels, it was the custom of the Roman governor to release one prisoner at Passover, and Pilate brought out Barabbas, identified by Matthew as a "notorious prisoner" and by Mark as a murderer, and told the crowd to choose between releasing Barabbas or Jesus as per the custom, in the hopes of getting them to request the release of Jesus. However, the crowd demanded
Matthew 27:3 ending its meeting and the leaders have conveyed Jesus to Pontius Pilate. It is thus possible that Judas' reversal is some time after the initial trial. By , the end of this Judas narrative, it is clear that the time being discussed is after the crucifixion. Despite the translation used by the King James Version, the author of Matthew does not have Judas repent, as Peter did in Matthew 26:75. Rather he feels remorse and changes his mind. This is important to Christian theology, as the truly repentant are expected to be forgiven, but Christian tradition has always had Judas