John 18:29-40 ▼

29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

30 They answered and said to him, “If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”

31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

32 in order that the word of Jesus which He spoke would be fulfilled, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this from yourself, or did others tell you about Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what did You do?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be delivered over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not from here.”

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You yourself said I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?”

40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.