18 ²⁸ FROM CAIAPHAS Jesus was led into the Governor's headquarters. It was now early morning, and the Jews themselves stayed outside the headquarters to avoid defilement, so that they could eat the Passover meal. Or: could share in the offerings of the Passover season. 18 ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and asked, 'What charge do you bring against this man?' 18 ³⁰ 'If he were not a criminal,' they replied, 'we should not have brought him before you.' 18 ³¹ Pilate said, 'Take him away and try him by your own law.' The Jews answered, 'We are not allowed to put any man to death.' 18 ³² Thus they ensured the fulfilment of the words by which Jesus had indicated the manner of his death.

18 ³³ Pilate then went back into his headquarters and summoned Jesus. 'Are you the king of the Jews?' he asked. Or: You are king of the Jews, I take it', he said. 18 ³⁴ Jesus said, 'Is that your own idea, or have others suggested it to you?' 18 ³⁵ 'What! am I a Jew?' said Pilate. 'Your own nation and their chief priests have brought you before me. What have you done?' 18 ³⁶ Jesus replied, 'My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my followers would be fighting to save me from arrest by the Jews. My kingly authority comes from elsewhere.' 18 ³⁷ 'You are a king, then?' said Pilate. Jesus answered, '"King" is your word. My task is to bear witness to the truth. For this was I born; for this I came into the world, and all who are not deaf to truth listen to my voice.' 18 ³⁸ Pilate said, 'What is truth?', and with those words went out again to the Jews. 'For my part,' he said, 'I find no case against him.