Final answer:
Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Judaea, arrested Jesus and ordered his crucifixion. His attempt to have Herod assume responsibility failed, and Jesus was crucified under Roman law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who arrested Jesus and ordered his crucifixion was Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate served as the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from AD 26–36. The historical accounts suggest that Pilate initially attempted to pass the responsibility to Herod, the local Jewish ruler, but eventually, Jesus was brought back to Pilate, who authorized the crucifixion. The Biblical trial of Jesus, set against the backdrop of Roman legal authority and Jewish traditions, underscores the complexities of the provincial legal systems under the Roman Empire.