Pilate’s Cross-examination …
Shortly after arriving at Pilate’s headquarters (but not entering that place, as otherwise they would be ritually unclean and not be able to partake of the Passover meal), Pilate came out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” And they answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate then said to them, “Then take him yourselves and judge him according to your own law.” But the Jews replied (seemingly to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die), “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” [John 18:29-32]
Then the high priests began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the Emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” To these charges, Jesus remained silent and made no reply. And Pilate looked at Jesus and said, “Do you not hear how many accusations they are making against you?” And yet Jesus gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Then Pilate retreated into his headquarters, summoned Jesus before him, and asked him privately, “Are you truly the King of the Jews?” And Jesus answered him, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” And Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to them. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” And Pilate asked him, “So you are indeed a king?” And Jesus replied, “You say that I am. And yet for this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” And Pilate asked, “What is truth?” [Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:2-5, Luke 23:2-3 & John 18:33-38a]
Then Pilate returned to the chief priests and the crowds and said, “I find no basis for your accusations against this man. I find no case against him” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all of Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.” When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was indeed a Galilean, and when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. [Luke 23:4-7 & John 18:38b]
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard a great deal about him and was hoping to have him perform some sort of sign. And he questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him., and even Herod with his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him. Then Herod put an elegant robe on Jesus, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. [Luke 23:8-12]
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” [Luke 23:13-16]
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