Pontius Pilate was a Roman prefect (or governor) over Judea in the early first century (about 26-36 AD). Those who have read about Pilate in the Gospel accounts may know of him as a man who saw Jesus was guiltless, but let his fear of the crowds seize him. He gave into cowardice and allowed for Jesus to be killed. We can read about the account of Pilate in Matthew 27 and John 18:28-40.