After speaking with Jesus, Pilate could not find any wrong in Him:
John 18:38New International Version (NIV)
38 "What is truth?" retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
Only a roman ruler could legally order an execution, which is what the Jewish leaders wanted.
After speaking with Jesus, Pilate could not find any wrong in Him: John 18:38New International Version (NIV) 38 "What is truth?" retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
The temple demanded the execution; the crucifixion was carried out by Pontius Pilate.
The jews wanted Jesus to be arrested and brought him before Pilate.
He was put on trial by the Romans. But the Jews wanted it.
No one! That was the cause of his execution. :)
Yes because Pontius Pilate did what the people wanted him to do
Pilate found no fault in Jesus so he told the Jewish leaders to try Jesus themselves according to their own laws. Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean and was under Herod's jurisdiction so Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who had heard about Jesus and wanted to see him. When Jesus came back, Pilate told the Jewish leaders that neither he nor Herod could find Jesus guilty of a crime that brought with it the death penalty. Pilate proposed to have Jesus scourged and then released. During passover the Romans had a custom of releasing one Jewish prisoner of the crowd's choosing. Pilate thought they might choose Jesus, but the crowd made clear they wanted him to release a prisoner named Barabbas. The crowd became a mob and with increased intensity called for Pilate to crucify Jesus. Pilate knew his first mandate from Caesar was to keep these people under control. Pilate therefore took a bowl of water and washed his hands, declaring his innocence of the blood of Jesus. I do not suppose Pilate never wanted the trial, only that he knew Jesus was innocent and did not want to see Him crucified.
Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean and was under Herod's jurisdiction. So Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who had heard about Jesus and had wanted to see Him.
Yes that was the custom; on Passover Day one prisoner would have to be released. Pilate wanted Jesus to be free, but the crowd wanted Barabbas free, and he was set free at the cost of Jesus.
The skeleton visited the butcher shop because he wanted to get a spare rib.
Ultimately, the Romans. The High Priests wanted him dead, but the High Priests did not have more say in the situation than the Roman procurator (Pilate) did. Pilate, of course, tried to "wash his hands" of the whole thing, but that does not change the fact that Pilate could have stopped it - he didn't.