Pontius Pilate: Portraits of a Roman Governor.

Warren Carter gives a useful evaluation of the Gospel's trial scenes in Pontius Pilate: Portraits of a Roman Governor (Liturgical Press, $14,95). The first three chapters detail the sources for reconstructing Pilate's character and role in the trial of Jesus, lay out a method for reading the Gospels, and describe how governors function within the Roman provincial system of government. He then examines the way Pilate conducts the trial in each of the four Gospels, presenting him as cooperating with the local elite, seeing a political threat in Jesus, and skillfully using his authority to elicit the support of the local people. Only in Luke does Pilate find Jesus innocent, but he crucifies him under pressure, acting arrogantly as a representative of Roman power. This volume would be good to read as one prepares to preach in Lent. It inaugurates a new series titled Interfaces, which seeks to make biblical characters understandable and interesting to college students. Other volumes will treat Herodias, King Saul, Joseph, John the Baptist, and the like. If they are as successful as this volume, it will be a very useful series. EK