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John 
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Day 286

John 18:28-40 "THE INTERROGATION OF JESUS BY PILATE"

Day 286 – John 18

THE INTERROGATION OF JESUS BY PILATE

Pilate had learned from experience that the Jews were not to be trifled with. He had to learn how to read between their words. He must have pondered over what the Jews said about Jesus as he returned to the Praetorium. Jesus had been called “an evildoer”. Was He really an evildoer? Somehow, Jesus did not strike Pilate as an evildoer at all. He had risen from the ranks till he was appointed the “Praefectus Iudaeae” (“Prefect of Judea”). But before we read the Biblical text further, we ought to find out a little more about Pontius Pilate.

WHO WAS PONTIUS PILATE?

The information gathered below concerning Pontius Pilate would help us understand his role in the Trial of Jesus. (The information is drawn from ISBE).

1. Name of Pontius Pilate

a) Pontius was a fairly common family name.
b) Pilate could mean “armed with a javelin” or even “bald”.
c) His cognomen “Pilatus” (usually a reference to the third last name) was rare.
d) Our knowledge of Pilate is limited to the Biblical text, Josephus’ Antiquities and from the writings of Philo the Jew.

2. Career

a) He was an equestrian officer (cavalry).
b) He was appointed governor in AD 26/27.
c) He had five infantry cohorts and a cavalry regiment (all totaled about 5000 men under him).
d) He was subordinate to the general authority of the legate (Governor) of Syria.
e) His administrative center was Caesarea and not Jerusalem.
f) He ruled Judea under Tiberius Caesar for about 10 years.
g) Pilate was implicated in the massacre of some Galileans (Luke 13:1).
h) He was also involved in the slaughter of some Samaritans.
i) After the death of Tiberius, he was sent back to Rome to be investigated with reference to his role in the massacre of the Samaritans.
j) He was supposed to have been driven to commit suicide.

3. Trial of Jesus

a) The trial was particularly unusual.
b) There would be the prosecutors (The Jews).
c) The governor would be seated at his judgment seat.
d) It was the duty of the governor to investigate any provincial case brought to his attention.
e) Pilate’s weakness was his fear of the Jews. He caved in to their demands!

INVESTIGATION OF POSSIBLE HOSTILE POLITICAL INCLINATIONS

After the brief conversation with the Jews, Pilate went into his Praetorium and asked Jesus pointedly concerning His political ambitions.

“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again,
called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the
king of the Jews?'”
John 18:33

This was as direct as Pilate could get. If there were political implications, and if Jesus had any pretensions at all, then Pilate would have no qualms about sentencing Jesus to death.

To his surprise, Jesus said,

“Are you speaking for yourself about this,
or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
John 18:34

Jesus intimated that He knew that Pilate was prompted by His accusers. The synoptist Matthew wrote,

“When morning came, all the chief priests
and elders of the people plotted against
Jesus to put Him to death. And when they
had bound Him, they led Him away and
delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And
the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You
the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him,
‘It is as you say.'”
Matthew 27:1-2, 11 (Luke 23:1-3)

Pilate said to Jesus,

“Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief
priests have delivered You to me. What have
You done?”
John 18:35

The conclusion of the investigation concerning Jesus’ alleged treason of claiming kingship was obvious. Pilate returned to the Jews and made known his findings. The synoptist Luke wrote,

“So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd,
‘I find no fault in this Man.'”
Luke 23:4

Pilate could have released Jesus there and then but the Jews would not accept his verdict on the matter! They wanted Him to die! Such was their hatred for Jesus!