John 18:28–40

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸Then ⁱthey took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. ^jIt was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

²⁹Then Pilate ^kcame out to them and said, “What charge ^ldo you bring against this man?”

³⁰They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, ^mwe wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.”

³¹So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal ⁿfor us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. ³²They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die. ^o

³³Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” ^p

³⁴Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”

³⁵“I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

³⁶“My kingdom ^qis not of this ^•world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, ^rMy servants ^stwould fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” ^uv

³⁷“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world ^wfor this: to testify ^xto the truth. ^yEveryone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

³⁸“What is truth?” said Pilate.

Jesus or Barabbas

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds ^zfor charging Him. ³⁹You ^ahave a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” ^bNow Barabbas was a revolutionary. ^cd