What Happened to Pontius Pilate — The Man Responsible for Crucifying Jesus?

This Roman governor is one of the most hated figures in the Christian religion

Pilate presenting Jesus to the people. Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Pontius Pilate was definitely a real historical figure. We know this because in 1961, an inscribed slab of limestone was found in Caesarea Maritima (modern-day Israel) and it stated that he was the Roman governor of Judaea under the reign of Emperor Tiberius and during the time when Jesus was alive. Documents relating to his governorship have also been found among ancient texts in Rome.

Background

According to the Four Gospels of Christianity, Pilate oversaw the trial of Jesus after he had been accused of treason by the Sanhedrin Jewish council. The charges of treason existed because Jesus had called himself the “King of all Jews,” something that was illegal while Judaea was under Roman occupation. However, the council really wanted Jesus gone because he was gaining followers fast and they considered him a political threat.

Pilate had been the governor of that part of the Roman empire since 26 AD (and would continue to be until 36 AD). During that time, he hadn’t managed Judaea very well. He’d ordered the introduction of many pagan symbols in sacred Jewish institutions, thus angering the local populace. So by the time Jesus was brought before him, he wasn’t in a position to anger them any further.

He had a talk with Jesus and apparently, he initially found him innocent. But the crowd outside the courthouse shouted that they wanted him dead and Pilate eventually caved and gave them what they wanted. Jesus was whipped to the bone, made to wear a crown of thorns, and crucified. Then he rose again three days after his death, proving to his followers that he really was the son of God (again, according to scriptures).

And so Christianity continued to grow until it became the religion with the largest following in the world. But despite the important role Pontius Pilate played in its origin, the majority of people don’t know anything about what happened to him during the rest of his life.

So What Did Pilate Do After the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ?