"What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?"

Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea who was accountable for the trial and execution of Jesus Christ. This quote is from the Gospel of Matthew, when Pilate asked the crowd what he must make with Jesus, whom they had called the King of the Jews. Pilate was attempting to understand the scenario and identify the best strategy. He understood the political implications of his choice and wished to prevent any potential reaction from the Jewish people. By asking the crowd what he should do, Pilate was giving them the chance to decide the fate of Jesus. He was likewise trying to evaluate the level of support for Jesus amongst the people. Pilate was trying to find a way to satisfy the crowd without jeopardizing his own authority. Eventually, Pilate chose to have Jesus crucified, however this quote shows that he was searching for a method to prevent this result.