It’s safe to say that if the Bible had not mentioned Pontius Pilate, he would have disappeared into the pages of history with few every knowing his name.
Of course, Pontius Pilate is the Roman ruler of Judea who condemned Jesus to death, despite washing his hands of the sin. His name appears only three times in the Bible (LUke 3:1, Acts 4:27, 1 Timothy 6:13). He ruled Judea from A.D. 26 to 36. Little is known of his early life, so we pick him up when the Roman Emperor Tiberius gives him the unpleasant job of governing the troublesome Jews.
Pilate as known for being a tyrant. He never quite understood the Jews and did things to offend their religion. Thus, the reason he gave into the Jews for the crucifixion of Christ was because he was afraid of a mob and word would get back to Rome about his inability to rule there. He was in Jerusalem in order to keep the peace. His normal headquarters was in Caesarea.
He condemns Christ, and then he disappears in history from there. It is believed he was sent to Rome after he failed to put down a Samarian rebellion that resulted in innocent bloodshed. Tiberius died before Pilate could arrive, and it is said he commited suicide shortly thereafter.
There are many infamous names in history, and Pilate’s is perhaps at the top of the list.