Font Size
John 18:28-40
New International Version
John 18:28-40
New International Version
Jesus Before Pilate(A)
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor.(B) By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace,(C) because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.(D) 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.(E)
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace,(F) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”(G)
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(H) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.(I) But now my kingdom is from another place.”(J)
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.(K) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”(L)
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.(M) 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.(N)
John 18:28-40
King James Version
John 18:28-40
King James Version
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Read full chapter
John 18:28-40
New King James Version
John 18:28-40
New King James Version
In Pilate’s Court(A)
28 (B)Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. (C)But they themselves did not go into the [a]Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 (D)Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If He were not [b]an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
31 Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” 32 (E)that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, (F)signifying by what death He would die.
33 (G)Then Pilate entered the [c]Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
36 (H)Jesus answered, (I)“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, (J)that I should bear (K)witness to the truth. Everyone who (L)is of the truth (M)hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, (N)“I find no fault in Him at all.
Taking the Place of Barabbas(O)
39 (P)“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 (Q)Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” (R)Now Barabbas was a robber.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 18:28 The governor’s headquarters
- John 18:30 a criminal
- John 18:33 The governor’s headquarters
John 18:28-40
English Standard Version
John 18:28-40
English Standard Version
Jesus Before Pilate
28 (A)Then they led Jesus (B)from the house of Caiaphas to (C)the governor's headquarters.[a] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, (D)so that they would not be defiled, (E)but could eat the Passover. 29 (F)So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, (G)“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 (H)This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken (I)to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33 (J)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, (K)“Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, (L)“My kingdom (M)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, (N)my servants would have been fighting, that (O)I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, (P)“You say that I am a king. (Q)For this purpose I was born and for this purpose (R)I have come into the world—(S)to bear witness to the truth. (T)Everyone who is (U)of the truth (V)listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, (W)he went back outside to the Jews and told them, (X)“I find no guilt in him. 39 (Y)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, (Z)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.[b]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 18:28 Greek the praetorium
- John 18:40 Or an insurrectionist
John 18:28-40
New American Standard Bible
John 18:28-40
New American Standard Bible
Jesus before Pilate
28 (A)Then they *brought Jesus from (B)Caiaphas into (C)the [a]Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter (D)the [b]Praetorium, so that (E)they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. 29 (F)Therefore Pilate came out to them and *said, “What accusation are you bringing against this Man?” 30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not [c]a criminal, we would not have handed Him over 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 [d]permitted to put anyone to death.” 32 This happened so that (G)the word of Jesus which He said, indicating what kind of death He was going to die, would be fulfilled.
33 Therefore Pilate (H)entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “(I)You are the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this [e]on your own, or did others tell you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “(J)My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not [f]of this realm.” 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “(K)You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: (L)to testify to the truth. (M)Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”
And after saying this, he (N)came out again to the Jews and *said to them, “(O)I find no grounds at all for charges in [g]His case. 39 (P)However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner [h]for you at the Passover; therefore do you wish that I release [i]for you the King of the Jews?” 40 So they shouted again, saying, “(Q)Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 18:28 I.e., governor’s official residence
- John 18:28 I.e., governor’s official residence
- John 18:30 Lit one doing evil
- John 18:31 I.e., under Roman law
- John 18:34 Lit from yourself
- John 18:36 Lit from here
- John 18:38 Lit Him
- John 18:39 Or to you
- John 18:39 Or to you
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.