What were Jesus and early Christians like?

[Drich]

Seems even wiki has a better grasp of Pilate than you do.

I was talking about genuine historical references, not the canonical gospels or Josephus. I'm well aware of Tacitus and the plate they found.

So, again: Why would a Roman governor be out to upset the locals?

He wasnt. He was looking to passify them. The jews were always on the teetering edge of revolt. They hated rome, and in 70AD they did indeed revolt, which is what cause the romans to destroy the temple, full filling the prophesy Jesus gave.

Despite your misgivings about the Historical documentation concerning pilate, it has been well established that he was on thin ice with Tiberius/Ceasar about keeping the jews under control.

So to upset the jews by setting Jesus free, because he found him innocent of the charge they accused Him of would have caused trouble for pilate. So he had Jesus flogged and crucified to placate the crowd, rather than do what was right.