[When the Jews were trying to convince Pilate that Jesus was a criminal,] Pilate said, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law."

   "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death He was going to die would be fulfilled.

   Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

   "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about Me?"

   "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was Your people and Your chief priests who handed You over to me. What is it You have done?"

   Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place."

   "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me."

   "What is truth?" Pilate asked.

   When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform some miracle. He plied Him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing Him.

   Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this Man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have found no basis for your charges against Him. Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; as you can see, He has done nothing to deserve death."

Taken from John 18, Luke 23, The New International Version. For free Lifescope book,
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