Hey Minimalist

[A Theist]

According to what's known of Pilate he was a vindictive and abrasive individual who had antagonized the Jews on a few occasions nearly causing an insurrection.

For once in your life you make a good point. Both Philo and Josephus consider Pilate to be an arrogant bastard. A far cry from the hand-wringing, hand-washing, "why-are-you-making-me-do-this" pussy of the gospels.

Yup. Both Philo and Josephus wrote of Pilate that way. He was also portrayed as an individual who had no love for the Jews and even less patience for their religious customs. Some of his abrasiveness did in fact show up in the Gospels...The exchange between Jesus and Pilate in John 18:33-35...and also Pilate's exchange with the Jews when they objected to the title on the cross, "Jesus Of Nazareth King Of The Jews" in John 19:19-22. Pilate had already been called to Rome for a "dressing down" for nearly causing an insurrection after offending the Jews, then was reproached by Tiberius on another occasion. Additionally the Jews were constantly writing letters to Rome complaining about Pilate. So I think rather than facing any more trouble from Rome Pilate may have thought it best for himself to appease the Jews in the matter of Jesus and avoid a possible insurrection.