The Initial Roman Questioning

Matthew 27:11-14

Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

And Jesus said to him, “As you say.” But when he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he said nothing.

Then Pilate said to him, “Do you hear what all they are saying against you?” He did not respond and the governor was amazed.

Mark 15:2-5

And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

And he said to him, “It is as you say.”

And when the chief priests accused him of various things, he remained silent. So, Pilate asked him again, saying, “Are you going to answer? Look at all they are accusing you of!” But Jesus said nothing, to Pilate’s amazement.

Luke 23:2-7

And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow changing the nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar. He says he is the Messiah, the king.”

Pilate then asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

He answered him and said, “It is as you say.”

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, “I find no fault in this man.”

At this, they became more violent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting in Galilee even to this place.”

When Pilate heard the mention of Galilee, he asked if he were a Galilean. As soon as he heard that he belonged under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem at that time.

John 18:29-40

Pilate then went out to them, and said, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”

They replied, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you!”

Then Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”

Therefore, the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.

Then Pilate entered the judgment hall again and called Jesus. He said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered him, “Do you say this yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

Pilate answered, “Am I a Judean? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight and prevent my deliverance to the Judeans. But my kingdom is not from here.”

So, Pilate said to him, “Are you then a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born to this end and for this cause I came into the world so I could bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.”

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 fault in him. You have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you want me to therefore release the King of the Jews to you?”

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