This article on the Apostles' Creed describes what Christians confess when they say that "Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried". By pointing to Pontius Pilate we are given the historical certainty of Christ's death. "Crucifixion" points to God's judgement and mercy; "death" to the victory of physical and spiritual death; and being ''buried'' to the certainty that Christ did actually die.