3-042-426 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Pilate Washing his Hands; Prayer Book of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, about 1525-1530. Additional Info: As in many of the judgment scenes in this book, Christ comes before his accuser with his wrists bound, surrounded by a cruel and ugly group of tormentors. According to the Gospels, Pilate found Christ innocent but was reluctant to release him because the Jews wanted him executed. Bowing to the demands of the crowd, he decided to follow custom and release a prisoner on Passover. Upon asking the Jews whether they wanted to free Christ or the robber Barabbas, the people called for Barabbas. Pilate gave in to the wishes of the people but publicly washed his hands as a sign of his disagreement with the decision.