Rome was considered one of the largest empires of the ancient world, covering areas throughout the Mediterranean, North Africa and Asia Minor. Soon after the Punic Wars occurred, Emperor Augustus expanded the empire into other areas such as Egypt, Spain, and certain parts of the Middle East, including the land of Judea. Once Judea became part of the empire, it would lead to the coming of Christ to begin and spread Christianity.
Augustus' rule would eventually end with his death, as Tiberius became the new Roman Emperor. Hearing him claim to be the Messiah, the Emperor reacted with great disgust and planned to arrest him. After learning of his teachings, the Roman Empire and most of its citizens refused to believe that he was the Messiah. Others who watched and reported on its events; such as his power to heal and cast out demons and the moments leading up to his crucifixion. The twelve men who followed Jesus were afraid that he would be captured by the Romans. They wanted to protect Jesus no matter where they were to follow him, but he was tempted by the devil in the Garden of Eden. His purpose was not to prove that the Messiah was on earth, but to enable the world to believe that He was. He did not want to save himself and restore the earthly empire, but to become a sacrifice to justify his people with his own blood.
Pilate of Pontus
When Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews, he replied, "My servants would fight if my kingdom were of this world," but since he is not of the world, Pilate would not let go, except from his own conditions. After they decided to free a robber named Barabbas instead, Pilate washed his hands to say he was innocent. Pilate did not condemn Jesus crucified on his own authority, in fact he did not convict him of anything during the trial. By making Christ innocent, he claimed that he was from what they were going to do to him under Roman law.
His position could in no way decide the death of Jesus. Even if he said "live" it would be in conjunction with Rome and denying that he is God who has his own power to lay down his life. Jesus stood trial under Roman law to fulfill the law of Moses. Because he had broken no law, Pilate had no say in what Jesus had to do. He did not understand the spiritual element of sin and what Christ had to do when he yielded to the demands of the world and the Roman system. While he may have tried to exonerate the charge against Jesus, he did not know that his sin was still pressing upon the Lord and leaving the final verdict to the crowd—a decision made by the Jews that did not concern himself. Pilate's motives in not crucifying the Son of God were an unjustifiable act of self-righteousness. You can only become righteous by what Christ had to do, so he actually acted on the circumstances of his crucifixion, not realizing that he was also a sinner.
The Romans who crucified Jesus wanted to prevent their emperor from falling into inferiority and the empire from being overwhelmed. In fact, the Roman Empire still enforced its policy to stop Christianity after the death and resurrection of Christ. Anyone found to be a Christian would be executed or imprisoned. Almost all the apostles were martyred for teaching God's work of salvation and his power over the whole earth.
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