From anxiety to desperation: Pilate's voice may have reached a higher pitch as the trap closed around him.  Instead of issuing a right verdict, he thrashes around like a fish in a net and offers himself to the judgement of the crowd; and of all history.  Of course, the discussion about Barabbas was a ploy to avoid the real subject, Jesus (Mark 15:6-8).   Pilate may have hoped the crowd would be on the side of justice and truth, but the angry mob's insistent demand killed truth and obliterated the voice of Pilate's conscience.

The crowd disturbance that Pilate feared was about to erupt.  All questions about evidence and law were thrown away.  The mob was demanding the death sentence on Jesus; and Pilate's career, if not his life, was in serious danger if he refused their demand.  Pilate could see no way out.  The chief priests knew that a riot might end their own power base (John 11:48) – so they did not want to be the cause of the agitated demonstration.  But now they had cunningly manipulated Pilate into the role of riot-maker - although it was Pilate's own decision to go direct to the people (Mark 15:9-11).

"Wanting to satisfy the crowd", is a pathetic illegal reason for authorising a man to be flogged and hung.  'Anything for a quiet life' is never a wise decision style.  And for Pilate, it was to prove a disaster.  It was no honest judicial mistake, (although paradoxically, 'Barabbas' means 'the son of the father' ... one was set free and the other killed ... but it was the wrong way around).  For ever after, history, and the creeds, would announce that Jesus died 'under the authority of Pontius Pilate'.  For him personally, that decision started the countdown to his recall to Rome three years later and then death in ignominy: his power gone.

Pilate's crime against truth and justice was monumental.  The event was unique, and there are no adequate comparisons.  But because the error was so blatant, it provides a very clear perspective on the lesser decisions we make in work, in the family, community and church.  If Pilate had loved or honoured Jesus, the bizarre decision would not have been made.  No decision is simply intellectual or pragmatic: we do what we do, because of who we love (2 Corinthians 7:1).  So, if we love Jesus the Truth, our choices will be godly.  That is far more important than pragmatic self-interest.  The only godly way forward is in 1 Peter 5:6.  It was a lesson Peter himself had to learn, and perhaps we do too: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."