18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. 1 (Now it was very early morning.) 2 They 3 did not go into the governor’s residence 4 so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. 18:29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation 5 do you bring against this man?” 6 18:30 They replied, 7 “If this man 8 were not a criminal, 9 we would not have handed him over to you.” 10
18:31 Pilate told them, 11 “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him 12 according to your own law!” 13 The Jewish leaders 14 replied, 15 “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” 16 18:32 (This happened 17 to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated 18 what kind of death he was going to die. 19 )
18:33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, 20 summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 21 18:34 Jesus replied, 22 “Are you saying this on your own initiative, 23 or have others told you about me?” 18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? 24 Your own people 25 and your chief priests handed you over 26 to me. What have you done?”
18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being 27 handed over 28 to the Jewish authorities. 29 But as it is, 30 my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said, 31 “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to 32 my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked, 33 “What is truth?” 34
When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders 35 and announced, 36 “I find no basis for an accusation 37 against him.