Jesus before Pilate

(Matthew 27:11–14, Luke 23:1–5)

28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and [the Jews] {did} not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled [and unable] to eat the Passover.

29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied we would not have handed Him over to you.”

31 “You take Him and judge Him by your [own] law,” Pilate told them. We are not permitted to execute anyone the Jews replied 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.[fn]

33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 “{Are} you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or {did} others tell you about Me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. Your [own] people and chief priests handed You {over} to me. What have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if [it] were My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. 39 But it is your custom that I release to you one [prisoner] at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 “Not this [man],” they shouted “but Barabbas!” ( Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist. )