John 18:33-40 - Pilate Questions Jesus
33 So, Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus. He said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
34 Jesus answered, "Are you saying this of your own accord, or did other people tell you about me?"
35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own people and the leading priests turned you over to me. What have you done?"
36 Jesus answered him, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, then my servants [i.e., disciples] would fight to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But now my kingdom does not belong here." [i.e., Jesus' kingdom was not based on physical, but spiritual principles].
37 So, Pilate said to Him, "Are you a king, then?" Jesus answered, "You are [correct in] calling me a 'king.' This was the [very] purpose for which I was born and came into the world, that I should testify about the truth. Every person who wants [to know and obey] the truth listens to me."
38 Pilate replied to Him, "What is truth?" After saying this, Pilate again went outside to the Jews and said to them, "I do not find him guilty of any crime. 39 But since you [Jews] have a custom that I should release to you one [prisoner] during the Passover Festival, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
40 They shouted out again, "[No], not this man. [We want] Barabbas!" [Note: Ironically, Barabbas' name means "son of the father"]. Now Barabbas was a robber.