John 18:33-38
18:33 a Pilate was personally responsible for capital crimes in which the interests and security of the Roman Empire were at stake, so he began his formal legal inquiry.• Are you the king of the Jews? To get the governor’s attention, Caiaphas had charged that Jesus had urged people not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and had claimed to be a king (Luke 23:2 b). To Pilate, Jesus might have been just another Jewish terrorist–revolutionary (see Luke 23:18-19 c; Acts 5:36-37 d) with a head full of messianic notions and a band of well-armed followers.
Summary for John 18:34-35: 18:34-35 e Jesus’ reply forced the governor to show the origin of his question. The Temple leadership was behind these charges. Pilate only wanted to know if Jesus was a rebel who might threaten Roman interests.
Summary for John 18:36-37: 18:36-37 f Jesus was willing to accept the title of king, but he made it clear that he did not govern an earthly kingdom that might rival Rome. Jesus’ kingship is not of this world. Rather than being a political ruler, he rules through the devotion and obedience of his followers.
Summary for John 18:38-39: 18:38-39 g What is truth? Truth was not a foreign idea to Pilate, but he did not wait for an answer to his question because he did not believe there was one.
• Pilate returned to the council members waiting outside and delivered his verdict: not guilty. Although he referred to Jesus as “King of the Jews” (see also 19:19 h), the title meant nothing more to Pilate than a mocking expression of contempt. Pilate’s offer of amnesty revealed his desire to let Jesus go.
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