PONTIUS PILATE ESSAY: Warren Carter, Professor of New Testament at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, has an essay on Pilate on the Bible and Interpretation website:

Pontius Pilate: Roman Governor

Pilate�s enormous �life and death� power should shape how we read the gospel narratives of Jesus� crucifixion. Pilate is not a neutral or weak or minor character. He is not forced to crucify Jesus by the Jerusalem leaders against his will. He crucifies Jesus because it is in Rome�s interests to do so, interests he is charged with protecting and furthering.