gospel · 30 · Jerusalem
Brought at daybreak to the praetorium, he told the prefect 'my kingdom is not of this world', and Pilate answered 'what is truth?' Three times Pilate said he found no guilt in him, and three times gave way to the crowd. This is the one scene of the passion with a pagan witness outside the church's own books: Tacitus reports that Christus was executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius (Annals 15.44).
In the canonical gospels, Pilate's court refers to the appearance of Jesus before Pontius Pilate in the praetorium of Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pilate on accusations of rebellion. After questioning him and finding no evidence of guilt, Pilate determined that, as a Galilean, Jesus fell under Herod Antipas's jurisdiction and sent Jesus to Herod. Herod also found Jesus no threat and returned him to Pilate, who again confronted the Jewish leaders' demands for crucifixion. Despite agreeing with Herod's judgment, Pilate relented.
To secure a Roman death sentence the council could not pass itself.
Pilate finds no fault and hands him over regardless.