54. Were the Jews, or were the Romans, responsible for Jesus death?

At that particular time the Jews were not allowed to inflict the death penalty. Afterward, as in the case of Stephen, they did inflict it, and they carried it out by stoning. Their responsibility, however, is un­doubted.

Pilate did not want to kill Jesus. The Jews placed Pilate in a technical difficulty by denouncing Jesus as a rival to Caesar. If he had refused to punish him the Jews would, as they covertly threatened, have denounced him to Caesar.

He could easily have cleared himself of such a charge, but there were other matters in his career which would not so well have borne investigation, and these would naturally have been cited if the Jews had impeached him.

Pilate consented to the execution reluctantly under Jewish pressure, and therefore, though the actual execution was conducted by Romans, the Jews were responsible.