²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

²³ Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

² Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” ³ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.^(A)

² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”^{[a](A) 3} Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.”^(B)

Pilate Questions Jesus

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” ¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.^{(A) 13} Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?”^{(B) 14} But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.^(C)

²⁸ Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.^{(A) 29} I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.^{(B) 30} When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”^[a](C)

¹⁶ I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.^(A)