Pilate begins the examination of Jesus V. 33. Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? V. 34. Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me? V. 35. Pilate answered, Am I, a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me; what hast Thou done?
Having received no definite charges, but only vague intimations from the Jews, Pilate now resolved to give the prisoner a hearing. He took up the case, although he was convinced that Christ was no political criminal. That in itself was an injustice on the part of the governor, to make a case where he did not believe there was a case. But one of the statements of the Jewish rulers had been that Jesus had said that He was the King of the Jews. So Pilate takes up this matter, as one that might lead to some solution.
But Jesus asks a very pertinent question in turn: Of thyself sayest thou this, or have others spoken to thee concerning Me? "Do you make this inquiry from any serious personal interest and with any keen apprehension of the blessings attached to the kingdom of God, or are you merely echoing a formal charge brought against Me by others?” (Expositor’s Greek Testament, 1, 851).
“In the first place He excuses Himself thus: Do you say this thing of yourself, or did others tell it to you of Me?
“This seems again as though it were answered with pride; however, it is not a proud answer, but a very necessary defense. For if someone is accused falsely, he should not let the accusation rest upon him nor say: This I will gladly suffer and let remain upon me for God's sake, but should openly protest his innocence. Therefore the Lord throws the guilt and false accusation which the Jews put upon Him far from Himself and says:
“'Pilate, do you ask whether I am the King of the Jews, that is to say, whether I am a rebel against the emperor? I call upon your own conscience as a witness whether you accuse Me of this of yourself or not. Surely, of yourself you would not say such things of Me. Let your conscience answer, yes, let your own eyes answer. You see Me stand before you, captured and bound; I was taken in no tumult, and there is no crowd of people about Me that uses weapons, but I have altogether the aspect of a captured and bound person. Therefore I cannot be accused of insurrection against the emperor.
“Thus the Lord presents His innocence over against the false accusation of the Jews, calling upon both the conscience and the eyes of the judge for a witness” (Luther, 8, 908).
The very implication that he might have had the idea which he broached himself, Pilate rejects with a show almost of loathing: “I surely am no Jew!”
But the people to whom Jesus belonged by birth, the Jews and the chief priests, had delivered Him. And with some asperity Pilate wanted to know what the whole trouble was about, what Jesus had committed to be brought before Him in this manner. The idea that he should take any stock in a Jewish Messiah, Pilate scouts with sneering mockery.