John 18:28–38

Pilate Questions Jesus—Matthew 27:11–14; Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–4

²⁸Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the governor’s palace. 

The Jews wouldn’t go into the palace. They didn’t want to become unclean,^asince they wanted to eat the Passover. ²⁹So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation are you making against this man?” 

³⁰The Jews answered Pilate, “If he weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.” 

³¹Pilate told the Jews, “Take him, and try him by your law.” 

The Jews answered him, “We’re not allowed to execute anyone.” ³²In this way what Jesus had predicted about how he would die came true. 

³³Pilate went back into the palace, called for Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 

³⁴Jesus replied, “Did you think of that yourself, or did others tell you about me?” 

³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 

³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn’t have its origin on earth.” 

³⁷Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” 

Jesus replied, “You’re correct in saying that I’m a king. I have been born and have come into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.” 

³⁸Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” 

After Pilate said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I don’t find this man guilty of anything.