Jesus before Pilate

28 aThen they * led Jesus from bCaiaphas into cthe 1Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into cthe 1Praetorium so that dthey would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

29 aTherefore Pilate went out to them and * said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”

31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,”

32 to fulfill athe word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33 Therefore Pilate aentered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “bAre You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this 1on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “aMy kingdom 1is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not 2of this realm.”

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “aYou say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, bto testify to the truth. cEveryone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate * said to Him, “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he awent out again to the Jews and * said to them, “bI find no guilt in Him.

39 “aBut you have a custom that I release someone 1for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release 1for you the King of the Jews?”

40 So they cried out again, saying, “aNot this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.