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The Gospel of John, The Period of Consummation, Part VI, John 18:29,30 - Lesson 183
Read Verses John 18:28 for review: Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas (kah‑ee‑af'‑as) unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
John 18:29, Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
We see in John's Gospel how Pilate goes in and out several times talking to Jesus and then to the Jews, back and forth accommodating the Jews in this fashion.
He comes out of the hall after seeing Jesus Christ and says: What accusation bring ye against this man?
Roman law required three things.
The making of a specific indictment, the bringing of the accusers before the accused, and the liberty for the accused to answer for himself.
So in accord with Roman law Pilate asked what charge they made against their prisoner.
John 18:30, They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, (evildoer) we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
By their response they had expected Pilate to take their word for it and given them what they wanted.
They were taken aback.
What's going on here Pilate, we scratch your back you scratch ours.
Political deals.
They in essence said: How can you question us in this matter?
We would not bring an innocent man to you.
We would have never arrested an innocent man.
You are calling our integrity into question by your question and by your inference that this man deserves a trial.
All we want to do is use your authority to execute this man.
See who is before you.
We are the sacred Sanhedrin.
We have already tried this case and found this man guilty.
Our judgment is beyond question.
Just rubber stamp this case and let's get on with this before Passover.
Just give orders to crucify this man so we can all go home.
And as Luke records in verse 23:2, And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. |