Who Was Pontius Pilate?

Every time we recite the Apostles’ Creed, we affirm that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Why is Pilate so important that he is the only person, apart from Mary, mentioned by name in the Creed? We know Pilate as the Governor of Judea who famously washed his hands of responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion, but is there more to know about him? And why is he considered a saint in some Christian traditions? Join us as we explore what Scripture, history, and tradition tell us about this curious individual. To begin, Pontius Pilate wasn’t even his actual name. Who, then, was Pontius Pilate?