Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas
to the palace of the Roman governor.
By now it was early morning,
and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness
the Jews did not enter the palace;
they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
So Pilate came out to them and asked,
"What charges are you bringing against this man?"
"If he were not a criminal," they replied,
"we would not have handed him over to you."
Pilate said,
"Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected.
This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken
indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
Pilate then went back inside the palace,
summoned Jesus and asked him,
"Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked,
"or did others talk to you about me?"
"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied.
"It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me.
What is it you have done?"
Jesus said, "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 from another place."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king.
In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked.
With this he went out again to the Jews and said,
"I find no basis for a charge against him.
But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner
at the time of the Passover.
Do you want me to release `the king of the Jews'?"
They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!"
Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
Re-read this section
Commentary by Donald Senior, C.P.: Jesus before Pilate
Next: Jesus the Crucified King - John 19:1-16
Index for the Passion According to John
NIV Scripture Translation provided in accordance with fair use guidelines of Zondervan. Email questions or comments about this page to Fr. Victor Hoagland, C.P. Copyright 1997, Passionist Publications, Union City, NJ USA. Passionist Publications reserves all rights to text, illustrations, and HTML.