Pilate, like most Romans, was very superstitious. His wife had previously warned him about this Jesus (Matt 27:19) and every Roman knew the stories of the gods coming to earth to appear in human form or to mate with human women and produce offspring. Also, Pilate had obviously been impressed by Jesus and his conversation with Him, and now that he learns that He may be the son of a god, Pilate is scared. The use of the word “more” (mallon) is unusual since we have not been previously told that Pilate had any fear in this matter. It may mean that Pilate was afraid rather than something else which may have been expected, such as anger or the like; or it could be used in the sense that Pilate was very much afraid.

Matthew 27:19  While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”