He did not understand the people.

But he could not condemn an innocent man to death.

He would let the Nazarene just as He was step out on to the balcony.

He himself took a torch from a slave's hand to light up the pitiful figure.

"Look," he called down to the crowd, "look at the poor fellow!" "To the gallows with him! To the cross with him!" shouted the crowd.
"If," said Pilate, preserving his ironical tone, "if you do not want to miss your Passover spectacle, go out there; no fear of criminals not being crucified to-day.