Critics often dismiss the record of the dream of Pilate's wife in Matthew 27:19, characterizing it as a story invented 'for the edification of Roman matrons.'

However, Frank Morison offered a remarkable piece of insight concerning this incident. He noted the urgency of the request, observing that Pilate's wife had reason to believe that Pilate intended to ratify the finding of the Jewish tribunal without rehearing, or at any rate with a bare minimum of official formality. In other words, he had practically decided to conform to the Jewish decision, and had probably already given assurances to that effect overnight.

This suggests that Pilate not only knew of the arrest, but had an established understanding with the Jewish leaders that he would approve of their findings in advance. Morison believes that Pilate's wife was the one who made him hesitate. This may have been a contributing factor, especially if Pilate was superstitious about dreams and omens, as many Romans were. Another factor was likely the reports of the Roman forces.