To their surprise and disgust,[A] Pilate comes out himself and wants to know the charge against the prisoner.  They are not prepared for this.  It is their weak point, and has been from the first.  Their bold, sullen answer evades the question, while insisting on what they want, “If He were not a criminal we would not have brought Him to thee.”  They didn’t want his opinion, but his power, his consent to their plot.  But Pilate doesn’t propose to be used as such a convenience.  With scorn he tells them that if they propose to judge the case they may.  This wrings from them the humiliating reminder that the power of capital punishment is withheld from them by their Roman rulers, and nothing less will satisfy them here.  Then they begin a series of verbal charges.  They are all of a political nature, for only such would this Roman recognize.  This man had been perverting the nation, forbidding tribute to Caesar and calling Himself a King.

It takes no keenness for Pilate to see the hollowness of this sudden loyalty to Caesar.  He returns to the beautiful marble judgment hall, and has Jesus brought to him again.  He looks into Jesus’ face.  He is keen enough to see that here is no political schemer.  At most probably a religious enthusiast, or reformer, or something as harmless from his standpoint.  “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” he asks.  Jesus’ answer suggests that there was a kindliness in that face.  If there be a desire for truth here He will satisfy it.  This political charge had been made outside while He was within.  “Do you really want to know about Me, or are you merely repeating something you have heard?” He asks, with a gentle earnestness.

But Pilate at once repudiates any personal interest.  “Am I a Jew?” he asks, with plain contempt on that word.  “Thine own people are accusing thee.  What hast Thou done?” Then comes that great answer, “My kingdom is not of this world, if so I would be resisting these leaders and these present circumstances would all be different.  But my kingdom is not of your sort or theirs.”  Again there likely came a bit of softening and curious interest in Pilate’s face, as he asks, “Art Thou really a King then?” Jesus replies, “To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”  Pilate wonders what this has to do with being a king.  With a weary, impatient contempt, he says, “Truth?  What is that?” The accused seems to be an enthusiast, a dreamer, yet withal there certainly was a fine nobility about Him.  Certainly He was quite harmless politically.