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 27:11 the trial before Pilate. The following exchange between Jesus and Pilate is a rare item found in all four Gospels. With variations it is also at , , and -. This second interrogation closely parallels that of the first trial before the Sanhedrin in Matthew 26. The text implies that the Jewish leaders have briefed Pilate on the accusations they have against Jesus, and here he test them himself. This is the second time in Matthew a Gentile has referred to Jesus as "King of the Jews." The previous time was the Magi from the East doing so at .