John 18:33-40

New Testament for Everyone

My kingdom is not from this world

³³ So Pilate went back in to the Praetorium and spoke to Jesus.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked.

³⁴ “Was it your idea to ask that?” asked Jesus. “Or did other people tell you about me?”

³⁵ “I’m not a Jew, am I?” retorted Pilate. “Your own people, and the chief priests, have handed you over to me! What have you done?”

³⁶ “My kingdom isn’t the sort that grows in this world,” replied Jesus. “If my kingdom were from this world, my supporters would have fought, to stop me being handed over to the Judaeans. So then, my kingdom is not the sort that comes from here.”

³⁷ “So!” said Pilate. “You are a king, are you?”

“You’re the one who’s calling me a king,” replied Jesus. “I was born for this; I’ve come into the world for this: to give evidence about the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

³⁸ “Truth!” said Pilate. “What’s that?”

With those words, he went back out to the Judaeans.

“I find this man not guilty!” he said to them. ³⁹ “But look here: you’ve got this custom that I should let someone free at Passover-time. So what about it? Would you like me to release ‘The King of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ “No!” they shouted. “We don’t want him! Give us Barabbas!”

Now Barabbas was a brigand.