John 19:8-15

When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. He went back inside the palace and asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus did not answer him. Pilate said, “You refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have power to set you free and power to have you crucified?” Jesus answered, “The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. The man who turned me in to you is guilty of a greater sin.” After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go. But some in the crowd cried out, “Anyone who makes himself king is against Caesar. If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.” When Pilate heard what they were saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at the place called The Stone Pavement. (In the Hebrew language the name is Gabbatha.) It was about noon on Preparation Day of Passover week. Pilate said to the crowd, “Here is your king!” They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to crucify your king?” The leading priests answered, “The only king we have is Caesar.”