Pilate is an administrator experienced enough to understand the role of substitutions in the case he is asked to settle. This is made clear to us by the famous episode of Barabbas. The Roman concern for legality suggests to Pilate that he had best not hand Jesus over; that is, it would be better if he did not give in to the crowd. Yet Pilate understands that this crowd will not be pacified without a victim. That is why he offers it a victim in compensation: he proposes to have Barabbas executed in exchange for Jesus. From Pilate's point of view Barabbas offers the advantage of being already
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