23 Bible Trivia Questions About Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor found no fault in Jesus, yet handed Him over to be crucified. How much do you know about Pontius Pilate?

23 questionsTap an answer to check itBible verse for every answer

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Easy questions

  1. Question 1Easy

    Jesus explained the nature of His authority to Pilate by saying: 'My kingdom is not of this _____.'

    Answer: D. WorldJohn 18:36
    Jesus answered, ‹My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.›
  2. Question 2Easy

    During His trial before Pilate, Jesus answered every single accusation the chief priests made against Him.

    Answer: FalseMatthew 27:12-14
    And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
  3. Question 3Easy

    During Jesus' trial, He was taken to the Praetorium (headquarters) of the Roman governor. Who was the governor?

    Answer: D. Pontius PilateJohn 18:28-29
    Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
  4. Question 4Easy

    Who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus?

    Answer: C. Joseph of ArimatheaMatthew 27:57-58
    When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
  5. Question 5Easy

    Between Jesus and Barabbas, which one did the crowd ask Pilate to release?

    Answer: A. BarabbasMatthew 27:21
    The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Medium questions

  1. Question 6Medium

    Pilate marveled that Jesus was already dead.

    Answer: TrueMark 15:44
    And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
  2. Question 7Medium

    What famous question did Pilate ask Jesus about truth?

    Answer: D. What is truth?John 18:38
    Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
  3. Question 8Medium

    What did Pilate do to Jesus before delivering Him to be crucified?

    Answer: A. Scourged HimMatthew 27:26
    Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
  4. Question 9Medium

    How did Pilate respond to the chief priests' request for a guard at Jesus' tomb?

    Answer: B. You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know howMatthew 27:65
    Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
  5. Question 10Medium

    When Pilate reminded Jesus that he had the power to crucify or free Him, Jesus replied:

    Answer: B. You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.John 19:11
    Jesus answered, ‹Thou couldest have no power› at all ‹against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.›
  6. Question 11Medium

    When Pilate asked 'Are you the king of the Jews?', Jesus replied by asking him a question:

    Answer: B. Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?John 18:34
    Jesus answered him, ‹Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?›
  7. Question 12Medium

    When Pilate asked, 'Are you the king of the Jews?', what was Jesus's brief reply?

    Answer: C. You have said so.Matthew 27:11
    And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, ‹Thou sayest.›
  8. Question 13Medium

    Following the burial of Jesus, on which day did the chief priests and Pharisees gather before Pilate?

    Answer: A. The next day, which followed the Day of PreparationMatthew 27:62
    Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
  9. Question 14Medium

    What did Pilate do before the multitude to show he was innocent of Jesus' blood?

    Answer: C. He took water and washed his handsMatthew 27:24
    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
  10. Question 15Medium

    Jesus told Pilate the reason He was born and came into the world was to do what?

    Answer: C. To testify to the truthJohn 18:37
    Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, ‹Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.›
  11. Question 16Medium

    What did the people answer when Pilate washed his hands?

    Answer: A. His blood be on us and on our childrenMatthew 27:25
    Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
  12. Question 17Medium

    Pilate sat down in the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, _____.

    Answer: C. GabbathaJohn 19:13
    When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
  13. Question 18Medium

    In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, who was governor of Judea?

    Answer: C. Pontius PilateLuke 3:1
    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
  14. Question 19Medium

    Why did the Jews ask Pilate to break the legs of those crucified?

    Answer: C. So the bodies would not remain on the cross on the SabbathJohn 19:31
    The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
  15. Question 20Medium

    Following Jesus' crucifixion, why did the chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to secure the tomb?

    Answer: B. Lest His disciples steal Him away and say He has risenMatthew 27:64
    Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
  16. Question 21Medium

    Who sent a message to Pilate saying, 'Have nothing to do with that just Man'?

    Answer: D. His wifeMatthew 27:19
    When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
  17. Question 22Medium

    What did the chief priests shout when Pilate asked, 'Shall I crucify your King?'

    Answer: D. We have no king but CaesarJohn 19:15
    But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Hard questions

  1. Question 23Hard

    When Pilate heard that Jesus was a Galilean, to whom did he send Him?

    Answer: A. Herod AntipasLuke 23:7
    And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

Answer key

  1. D. World (John 18:36)
  2. False (Matthew 27:12-14)
  3. D. Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-29)
  4. C. Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-58)
  5. A. Barabbas (Matthew 27:21)
  6. True (Mark 15:44)
  7. D. What is truth? (John 18:38)
  8. A. Scourged Him (Matthew 27:26)
  9. B. You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how (Matthew 27:65)
  10. B. You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. (John 19:11)
  11. B. Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me? (John 18:34)
  12. C. You have said so. (Matthew 27:11)
  13. A. The next day, which followed the Day of Preparation (Matthew 27:62)
  14. C. He took water and washed his hands (Matthew 27:24)
  15. C. To testify to the truth (John 18:37)
  16. A. His blood be on us and on our children (Matthew 27:25)
  17. C. Gabbatha (John 19:13)
  18. C. Pontius Pilate (Luke 3:1)
  19. C. So the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (John 19:31)
  20. B. Lest His disciples steal Him away and say He has risen (Matthew 27:64)
  21. D. His wife (Matthew 27:19)
  22. D. We have no king but Caesar (John 19:15)
  23. A. Herod Antipas (Luke 23:7)
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Who was Pontius Pilate?

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea (Luke 3:1). After Jesus was arrested, the chief priests and elders bound Him and delivered Him to Pilate (Matthew 27:2). Pilate asked Him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?", and Jesus answered that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:33–36). Pilate asked, "What is truth?" and told the crowd he found no fault in Him (John 18:38). Hearing that Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Him to Herod (Luke 23:6–7).

At the feast it was the custom to release one prisoner, and the crowd chose Barabbas (Matthew 27:15–21). Pilate's wife warned him about a dream she had (Matthew 27:19). He washed his hands before the multitude and handed Jesus over to be crucified (Matthew 27:24–26). He wrote the title for the cross in Hebrew, Greek and Latin (John 19:19–20), and later gave the body to Joseph of Arimathaea (Matthew 27:58).

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