Not much is known about the early life of this Roman knight. Thanks to an inscription found in Caesarea, we know that he became prefect of Judea during the reign of Tiberius. He thus administered the entire province both economically and judicially and endeavored to maintain order there, from the year 26 to the year 36 or 37. But he is best known for the trial of Jesus. Indeed, the Jews, whose wrath he had incurred for having had coins with pagan effigies tapped and distributed in Jerusalem, and embezzled the sacred funds to build an aqueduct, came to demand the execution of Jesus. Unconvinced by the trial, he nevertheless ordered his crucifixion, in order to satisfy the crowd. Pilate is also known for his cruelty:thus the meeting of the Samaritans at Mount Gerizim is dispersed with such violence that they lodge a complaint with the Syrian prosecutor, Lucius Vitellius, who dismisses Pilate. Arrived after the death of Tiberius, he fell into disgrace under Caligula and would have committed suicide.
I er century AD - ?
Status
Politician
Prefect of Judea