John 18:28-40

Christian Standard Bible

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸ Then^(A) they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.^(B) It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

²⁹ So Pilate^(C) came out to them and said, “What charge^(D) do you bring against this man?”

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

³¹ Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. ³² They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.^(E)

³³ Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ^(F)

³⁴ Jesus 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^(G) is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world,^(H) my servants^(I) would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is,^[b] my kingdom is not from here.”^(J)

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^(K) for this: to testify^(L) to the truth.^(M) Everyone 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^(N) for charging him. ³⁹ You^(O) have 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?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” ^(P) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[c](Q)