Here Pilate showed his weakness. He had declared that Jesus was 732 innocent, yet he was willing for Him to be scourged to pacify His accusers. He would sacrifice justice and principle in order to compromise with the mob. This placed him at a disadvantage. The crowd presumed upon his indecision, and clamored the more for the life of the prisoner. If at the first Pilate had stood firm, refusing to condemn a man whom he found guiltless, he would have broken the fatal chain that was to bind him in remorse and guilt as long as he lived. Had he carried out his convictions of right, the Jews would not have presumed to dictate to him. Christ would have been put to death, but the guilt would not have rested upon Pilate. But Pilate had taken step after step in the violation of his conscience. He had excused himself from judging with justice and equity, and he now found himself almost helpless in the hands of the priests and rulers. His wavering and indecision proved his ruin.

Her viste Pilatus svaghed sig. Han havde erklæret, at Jesus var uskyldig, men alligevel var han villig til at lade ham piske for at tilfredsstille hans anklagere. Han ville tilsidesætte ret og retfærdighed for at gå på akkord med hoben. Dette gjorde hans stilling svagere. Mængden benyttede sig af hans ubeslutsomhed og fremkom med endnu stærkere krav om fangens liv. Hvis Pilatus fra første færd havde stået fast og nægtet at dømme et menneske, som han fandt var uden skyld, ville han have brudt den skæbnesvangre kæde af begivenheder, der skulle komme til at lænke ham i anger og skyld, så længe han levede. Hvis han havde gennemført, hvad han var overbevist om var rigtigt, ville jøderne ikke have dristet sig til at foreskrive ham noget. Kristus ville være blevet dræbt, men skylden herfor ville ikke have hvilet på Pilatus. Men skridt for skridt havde Pilatus øvet vold mod sin samvittighed. Han havde undslået sig for at dømme med retfærdighed og billighed, og nu opdagede han, at han var hjælpeløs i præsternes og rådsherrernes hænder. Hans vaklen og ubeslutsomhed viste sig at være hans ødelæggelse.