Procurator of Judaea at the time of Paul’s arrest by the Roman military authorities (Acts 23: 24). He investigated the case and heard Paul speak in his own defense (Acts 24), but put off giving any decision, his reason being that he had “more exact knowledge concerning the Way,” i.e., he knew more about the case and about Christianity than the prosecutors had told him. He hoped Paul would have offered him some bribe; but none being offered on his recall from Palestine, he left the apostle still in prison.

See also Chronological Tables; Drusilla.