John 18:33-38

Context

Pilate Questions Jesus

18:33 So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence,¹ summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”² 18:34 Jesus replied,³ “Are you saying this on your own initiative,⁴ or have others told you about me?” 18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I?⁵ Your own people⁶ and your chief priests handed you over⁷ to me. What have you done?”

18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being⁸ handed over⁹ to the Jewish authorities.¹⁰ But as it is,¹¹ my kingdom is not from here.” 18:37 Then Pilate said,¹² “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world – to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to¹³ my voice.” 18:38 Pilate asked,¹⁴ “What is truth?”¹⁵

When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders¹⁶ and announced,¹⁷ “I find no basis for an accusation¹⁸ against him.

[18:33] ¹tn Grk “into the praetorium.”

[18:33] ²sn It is difficult to discern Pilate’s attitude when he asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Some have believed the remark to be sarcastic or incredulous as Pilate looked at this lowly and humble prisoner: “So you’re the king of the Jews, are you?” Others have thought the Roman governor to have been impressed by Jesus’ regal disposition and dignity, and to have sincerely asked, “Are you really the king of the Jews?” Since it will later become apparent (v. 38) that Pilate considered Jesus innocent (and therefore probably also harmless) an attitude of incredulity is perhaps most likely, but this is far from certain in the absence of clear contextual clues.

[18:34] ³tn Grk “Jesus answered.”

[18:34] ⁴tn Grk “saying this from yourself.”

[18:35] ⁵sn Many have seen in Pilate’s reply “I am not a Jew, am I?” the Roman contempt for the Jewish people. Some of that may indeed be present, but strictly speaking, all Pilate affirms is that he, as a Roman, has no firsthand knowledge of Jewish custom or belief. What he knows of Jesus must have come from the Jewish authorities. They are the ones (your own people and your chief priests) who have handed Jesus over to Pilate.

[18:35] ⁶tn Or “your own nation.”

[18:35] ⁷tn Or “delivered you over.”

[18:36] ⁸tn Grk “so that I may not be.”

[18:36] ⁹tn Or “delivered over.”

[18:36] ¹⁰tn Or “the Jewish leaders”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders, especially members of the Sanhedrin. See the note on the phrase “Jewish leaders” in v. 12. In the translation “authorities” was preferred over “leaders” for stylistic reasons.

[18:36] ¹¹tn Grk “now.”

[18:37] ¹²tn Grk “said to him.”

[18:37] ¹³tn Or “obeys”; Grk “hears.”

[18:38] ¹⁴tn Grk “Pilate said.”

[18:38] ¹⁵sn With his reply “What is truth?” Pilate dismissed the matter. It is not clear what Pilate’s attitude was at this point, as in 18:33. He may have been sarcastic, or perhaps somewhat reflective. The author has not given enough information in the narrative to be sure. Within the narrative, Pilate’s question serves to make the reader reflect on what truth is, and that answer (in the narrative) has already been given (14:6).

[18:38] ¹⁶tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders, especially members of the Sanhedrin. See the note on the phrase “Jewish leaders” in v. 12. The term also occurs in v. 31, where it is clear the Jewish leaders are in view, because they state that they cannot legally carry out an execution. Although it is likely (in view of the synoptic parallels) that the crowd here in 18:38 was made up not just of the Jewish leaders, but of ordinary residents of Jerusalem and pilgrims who were in Jerusalem for the Passover, nevertheless in John’s Gospel Pilate is primarily in dialogue with the leadership of the nation, who are expressly mentioned in 18:35 and 19:6.

[18:38] ¹⁷tn Grk “said to them.”

[18:38] ¹⁸tn Grk “find no cause.”