Lesson for November 9, 2025
The Book of John
Lesson 40
Chapter 18:33-40
Verses 33-37
“Therefore, Pilate entered the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, ‘You are the King of the Jews?’ 34 Jesus answered, ‘Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about Me?’ 35 Pilate answered, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?’ 36 Jesus answered, ’My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’ 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.’”
The Fourth Illegal Trial – Jesus Taken before Pilate
The final three trials that Jesus endured were political, at the hands of the Romans. After Jesus was illegally tried and illegally sentence to death by the Jewish religious hierarchy, He was sent to Pilate, the local Roman governor, because the Jews could not carry out the death penalty without the permission and assistance of the Romans. There were two trial sessions before Pilate, interrupted by another before Herod. (Matthew 27:2, 11-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38)
Lucius Pontius Pilate was a Spaniard, born in the city of Seville, probably about the time of the birth of Christ. We never would have heard of him, except by a unique set of events that made him one of the most recognized men in history. Pilate was the judge that approved the death sentence upon Jesus Christ.
In 6 B.C., Judea was made a Roman province under the rulership of procurators (governors). Pontius Pilate was the sixth of these procurators. The procurators were personally appointed by the Emperor and were sent out from Rome as his personal representatives. Judea was considered one of the most difficult of the provinces to rule at this time and it is somewhat surprising that it was given to a man as inexperienced as Pilate.
The predecessors of Pilate had been careful to avoid offense to the Jews because of their religious ideas, but of this Pilate cared little. Proud and tactless, Pilate defied the religious beliefs of those whom he had been sent to govern, until the emperor himself had to step in, at the appeal of the people, and personally require Pilate to retract some of his more headstrong ways. All of these experiences served only to deepen Pilate’s hatred of the Jews, and their hatred of him.
The Jews had become embittered because of the loss of their kingly and judicial authority and seething with continual discontent that a foreign power ruled them. These feelings seemed to run highest during their national gatherings. Josephus, the first century historian, estimated the number attending a single Passover at 2,700,000, including the population of Jerusalem. And so, on such occasions the governor made sure he was in Jerusalem and accompanied by a small army.
Before his death in 4 B.C., Herod the Great had built an ornate fortress-palace in Jerusalem, and during his visits to the city, Pilate stayed there. One of the wings of the palace contained an assembly room in which Roman court trials were held. This was the Praetorium of Mark 15:16, the common hall of Matthew 27:27, the hall of judgment of John 18:28, and the judgment hall of John 18:28,33; 19:9, Acts 23:35.
But upon reaching this assembly room, the Jews, along with Jesus halted. Passover preparation had already begun, and defilement was sure to be theirs if they entered this “heathen” building. Gradually the crowd increased, and with it the noise. And so, when aroused, Pilate knew he had better get out there right away. And so, the Roman trial of Christ took place outside the Praetorium. This was the first of several illegalities that occurred during that trial.
Stepping outside, Pilate immediately directed his attention toward the priests, and called out, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” In reply, came an evasive answer, “If He were not a criminal, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” Pilate, used to this kind of reply said, “Take him and judge him according to your law.” They replied, “We can’t do it ourselves, for we want the death sentence!” Now, Pilate spoke and demanded a formal charge against the prisoner.
Matthew 23:2, “We found this Man misleading our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” A political charge was needed, and so three were given – perverting the nation, failure to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He was a King. And each one, though without a factual foundation, was a charge of treason against the government of Rome.
For the first time, Pilate entered the Praetorium where the trial was supposed to be held. More than information or settlement of a court trial, it was truth that Pilate needed. Pilate needed salvation. And Jesus was more concerned that Pilate hear truth, than that His own life be spared.
Pilate was convinced now that Jesus was thoroughly innocent. Reaching the gate, Pilate rendered his official decision in the case as the presiding Roman judge, “I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man.” With eager anticipation the Jewish leaders awaited the return of Pilate. When he appeared and declared the man innocent, it was too much. The Jewish leaders shouted, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee, as far as this place!” The Jews were trying to reopen the case that Pilate had just closed, and Pilate should not have permitted it. He had already rendered a verdict of innocence, and the trial was actually over, the case was dismissed. It was a rule of Roman law that no man will be put twice in jeopardy. This principle of double jeopardy was an important one, even in modern law. A man cannot be tried in a court of law twice on the same charge. But instead of setting Jesus free, Pilate used a loophole as an easy way out of it all. Rather than stand by Roman law, now that the trial had been concluded, Pilate reopened the case and sent Jesus to Herod.
The Fifth Illegal Trial – Jesus before Herod
Herod (Antipas) happened to be in Jerusalem for the weekend, and Pilate thought that perhaps he could transfer the jurisdiction of the trial to Herod. The residence of Herod, when in Jerusalem, was the Palace of Herod. Upon learning that Jesus had been sent to him, he demanded that Jesus be immediately brought into his assembly room. He was hoping for grand entertainment and ordered the sick and the lame to be brought in, so he could see Jesus heal them. But finally, the silence of Jesus brought the patience of Herod to an end. Herod, together with his soldiers, began to treat Him with contempt and mocked Him, dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. (Luke 23:11)
The Sixth Illegal Trial – Jesus Returned to Pilate
Herod refused to pronounce a sentence, which was the equivalent of an acquittal. So, he sent Jesus back to Pilate. And Pilate acknowledged it as such upon the return of Jesus. “Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and he said to them, ‘You brought this man to me on the ground that he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I have found no basis at all in the case of this Man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.’” (Luke 23:13-15)
For a second time Pilate had rendered a verdict of “not guilty.” But instead of releasing Jesus, he said he would have Him beaten before freeing Him. Immediately, there went up a crying and shouting for Jesus’ death. Gradually it subsided as Pilate proposed something new (his loophole).
Verses 38-40
“Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And after saying this, he came out again to the Jews and said to them, ‘I find no grounds at all for charges in His case. 39 However, you have a custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover; therefore, do you wish that I release for you the King of the Jews?’ 40 So they shouted again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas.’ Now Barabbas was a rebel.’”
It was a Jewish custom that one criminal be freed at each yearly Passover. Pilate now graciously offered to let Jesus be the one set at liberty. Placing Jesus before the people next to Barabbas, a hardened criminal, he appealed to their sympathy and asked them which man they wanted released. The contrast between the two men was unmistakable. Pilate was certain the crowd would choose Jesus. But Pilate was wrong. With a roar, the reply was “Barabbas, Barabbas, release unto us Barabbas.” “And what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” Pilate shouted. “Let him be crucified!” was the answer.