The guards brought Christ to the Roman governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilate. After interrogation Pilate could “find no fault in this man” and sent Him, since He was Galilean, to Herod, the then King of Galilee. This last mocked Christ and sent Him back to Pilate, who proposed to release Him. But the high priests present cried that Christ should be crucified, while the other man, Barabbas, who was under the trial for murder simultaneously with Christ, should be released on the spot. Pilate then washed his hands, saying “I am innocent of the blood of this just person; he then released Barabbas, had Jesus scourged, and handed him over for crucifixion.