First Stage of the Roman Trial. Jesus Before Pilate for the First Time.

  35 Pilate answered,; Amos I a Jew? [The strong, practical mind of the Roman at once caught the drift of Christ's question, and perceived that the title "King of the Jews" had in it a double meaning, so that it might be construed in some unpolitical sense. What this sense was he could not tell, for he was not a Jew. The mysteries of that nation were of no interest to him save where his office compelled him to understand them.] Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? [Pilate concedes that the accusation against Jesus comes from an unexpected and suspicious source, and he asks Jesus to tell him plainly by what means he had incurred the enmity of the leaders of his people.]

  36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. [Jesus answers the enmity of the rulers, and that was to have authority with and exercise influence over the people ( John 12:19 ). They objected to his kingly claims ( Matthew 21:15 Matthew 21:16 ; Luke 19:38 Luke 19:39 ), but Jesus shows Pilate that these kingly claims, however distasteful to the Jews, were no offense to or menace against the authority of Rome. Further than this, Jesus did not define his kingdom, for Pilate had no concern in it beyond this. It was sufficient to inform him that it made no use of physical power even for purposes of defense. Such a kingdom could cause no trouble to Rome, and the bare fact stated by Jesus proved that it was indeed such a kingdom.]

  37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. [See Section 126.] To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [Jesus here enlightens Pilate as to the nature of his kingdom. He, the King, was the incarnation of truth, and all those who derive the inspiration of their life from truth were his subjects. For the purpose of thus bearing witness to and revealing truth Jesus had been born, thus entering a new state of being, and he had come into the world in this changed condition, thus entering a new sphere of action. The words clearly imply the pre-existence of Christ and no doubt aroused that state of uneasiness or fear which was increased by the words of the Jewish rulers-- John 19:7 John 19:8 .]

  38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? [This question has been regarded as an earnest inquiry (Chrysostom), the inquiry of one who despaired (Olshausen), a scoffing question (Alford), etc. But it is evident that Pilate asked it intending to investigate the case of Jesus further, but, suddenly concluding that he already knew enough to answer his purpose as a judge, he stifles his curiosity as a human being and proceeds with the trial of Jesus, leaving the question unanswered.]

And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, ^c unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. him. [The pronoun "I" is emphatic; as if Pilate said, "You, prejudiced fanatics, demand his death, but I, the calm judge, pronounce him innocent."]

  ^b 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.

  ^a 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

[When Pilate left the Prætorium to speak with the Jewish rulers, it is evident that Jesus was led out with him, and so stood there in the presence of his accusers.]

  ^a 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

  ^b 4 And

  ^a 13 Then ^b Pilate again asked him, {^a saith unto him,} ^b saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. ^a Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

  ^b 5 But Jesus no more answered anything;

  ^a 14 And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: ^b insomuch that Pilate ^a the governor ^b marvelled. ^a greatly.

[Pilate was irritated that Jesus did not speak in his own defense. He had already seen enough of our Lord's wisdom to assure him that it would be an easy matter for him to expose the malicious emptiness of these charges--charges which Pilate himself knew to be false, but about which he had to keep silent, for, being judge, he could not become our Lord's advocate. Our Lord's silence was a matter of prophecy ( Isaiah 53:7 ). Jesus kept still because to have successfully defended himself would have been to frustrate the purpose for which he came into the world-- John 12:23-28 .]

  ^a 13 Then ^b Pilate again asked him, {^a saith unto him,} ^b saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. ^a Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

  ^b 5 But Jesus no more answered anything;

  ^a 14 And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: ^b insomuch that Pilate ^a the governor ^b marvelled. ^a greatly.

  ^c 5 But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. [The Jews cling to their general accusation of sedition, and seek to make the largeness of the territory where Jesus operated overshadow and conceal the smallness of their testimony as to what his operations were.]