The Jewish high priests and elders of the Sanhedrin accused Jesus of blasphemy, reaching the decision to kill him. But first they needed Rome to approve their death sentence, so Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea.Although Pilate found him not guilty, unable to find or even make a reason to condemn Jesus, he feared the crowd, letting them decide Jesus' fate. Crowded by the leading Jewish priests, the crowd declared, "Crucify him!"