Washing Hands When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves. (Matthew 27:24)When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves. (Matthew 27:24)