The crucible
Pontius Pilate was the governor of Rome during the time Jesus was living. According to the Bible, the
Jewish legislative body arrested Jesus and turned him over to Pilate because they considered him a threat to organized religion. After conducting his own trial, however, Pilate did not consider Jesus a political threat. Pilate offered the public the choice of a prisoner to be released, either Jesus or a convicted murderer named Barabbas, and they chose Barabbas. Pilate then literally washed his hands in front of the crowd, claiming that he was not responsible for Jesus' execution, though the official decision was his. Most Christians see Pilate as responsible for Jesus' death, however, because he did not stop what he knew was an obvious
injustice.
At the end Act II, John Proctor will condemn Reverend Hale, saying, "Pontius Pilate! God will not let
you wash your hand of this!"
What does Proctor mean by this? What might he be accusing Hale of?
