Pilate - Matthew 27:19-26

His wife came unto him because she had a dream and said that he should leave this good man alone.  The romans were the type to see reason, weren't they?  I think Pilate really did struggle with this decision.  He knew he had the power to release him to his freedom.  So when the people pressed him to crucify him his struggle became worse.  And he thought that washing his hands some how exonerated him.  Then the people were willing to call for His blood to be upon them and their children.  Such foolishness! All because they saw the need for power and their greed to be more important than what they had surely felt in His presence.

So they took Jesus as was probably their custom and scourged him and stripped him of His clothes, and treated him with no respect but instead mocked Him.   They released Barabbas.  It all had to be done for our salvation.