Jesus Before Pilate^(A)

¹¹ Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”^(B)

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

The High Priest Questions Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues^(B) or at the temple,^(C) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.^{(D) 21} Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials^(E) nearby slapped him in the face.^(F) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”^(G)

³³ Pilate then went back inside the palace,^(A) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”^(B)

³⁴ “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

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

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom^(C) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.^(D) But now my kingdom is from another place.”^(E)

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.^(F) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”^(G)

¹⁰ “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.^(A) Therefore the one who handed me over to you^(B) is guilty of a greater sin.”