Keraia
John 18

John 18:31

Jesus before Pilate · John 18:28–40
Read John 18

Translations

Modern
“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
Traditional
Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
Literal
Therefore Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not permitted to us to put anyone to death,”
Latin
Dixit ergo eis Pilatus: Accipite eum vos, et secundum legem vestram judicate eum. Dixerunt ergo ei Judæi: Nobis non licet interficere quemquam.

Interlinear

Greek
English
“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.

Notes

John 18:31–32

Pilate did not consider the charges convincing. So he told the Sanhedrin to judge Jesus by their own law. Pilate saw this as a Jewish argument, which he refused to investigate.

However, the Jewish leaders insisted that execution was necessary. This fulfilled the prediction Jesus made about how he would die (see 12:32–33). The Jews would have used stoning, but the Romans used crucifixion. If Pilate sentenced Jesus, the Romans would hang Jesus on a cross to die.

John 18:1–40

Jesus finished speaking his final words to his disciples in the upper room (13:31–17:26). Jesus then left the city and went to a garden east of Jerusalem to pray. There, authorities arrested him and took him back into the city for questioning by the Jewish religious leaders. The important "hour" Jesus often mentioned throughout the Gospel had arrived (see 2:4; see also study note on 12:23).

Events

Parallels

Matthew 27:11–14 Luke 23:1–5

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Pilate: Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Courts and Trials Hall of Judgment Judge Passion Praetorium, Praetorian Guard Procurator Sanhedrin

Topics

Courts of Justice of the Romans in Judea: Could Alone Award Death Jesus, the Christ: Led by the Council to Pilate (In Jerusalem) Pontius Pilate: Tries Jesus and Orders his Crucifixion Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Put on Trial and Condemn Jesus Prisoners: Jesus Punishments: Inflicting of Capital, not Permitted to the Jews by The The Roman Empire: Allusions to Judicial Affairs of Power of Life and Death Vested in Its Authorities