John 18:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"

NIV: "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

NASB: Pilate answered, 'I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me; what have You done?'

CSB: "I’m not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"

NLT: Am I a Jew?' Pilate retorted. 'Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?'

KJV: Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

NKJV: Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

The question Pilate asks here is not meant to be subtle, or polite. He's already indicated that he's not interested in Jewish religious debates (John 18:30–31). History tells us Pilate had a reputation for cruel, overly violent governance. His remark, then, can be read with a sneer—even sarcasm. Coming from his lips, the term "Jew" is practically a slur.

At the same time, Pilate is not stupid. He clearly knows about Jesus' popularity (Matthew 21:1–11; John 12:12–19) but hasn't seen a reason to think of Him as a threat (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). He also knows just how much the Jewish people, including the scribes and Pharisees, despise being ruled by the Roman Empire. For them to voluntarily bring Jesus here, for judgment, is extraordinary.

This makes Pilate's second question one of genuine curiosity. What would inspire people who hate Roman rule to bring one of their own, with demands for Roman judgment? John's account here is probably a shortened summary, but the accusation being made by Jesus' enemies involves sedition (John 19:12–15). Jesus' response (John 18:36) strikes directly at that lie.

John 18:28–40 describes Jerusalem's religious leaders taking Jesus to the local Roman governor. While Jewish authorities are allowed punish blasphemers, Roman law will not let them administer the death penalty. Jesus is too well-liked to be assassinated, so His enemies will attempt to paint Him as a rebel against Rome. In a private interview with Pilate, Jesus claims His role as King, but also notes that His purpose is not yet to rule an earthly kingdom. Pilate attempts to appease the crowd, trying to spare a clearly innocent man, but a mob has formed to demand Jesus' death. John continues his habit of skipping details offered in other Gospels. He does not repeat the account of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:55–65), nor the part of Pilate's investigation where Jesus is sent briefly to Herod (Luke 23:6–12).

Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.