can be very brutal. the pilate of the gospels is uncertain. >> a couple of the gospels suggest that the jewish authorities pressurize a reluctant pilate into sending jesus to the cross. >> are you the king of the jews? >> in reality, i think this is not at all realistic, and i don't think it would have taken very much for pilate to be convinced that jesus had to be sent to the cross. >> we can see the gospel accounts of the trial of jesus in some ways as fictional courtroom dramas. >> then why does the pilate of the bible try to avoid crucifying jesus? >> i have the authority to set you free. >> the gospels are all written several decades after the death of jesus, and by this time, the people coming into christianity are romans. >> the gospels try to let pilate off the hook by making him seem more doubtful, and that makes sense because the gospel writers are writing in a roman world.