From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you’re not Caesar’s friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is against Caesar!”
“So you’re a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I’m a king. The reason I was born and came into the world was to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.”
So they brought branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who told the truth when he was a witness in front of Pontius Pilate, I give you a command.
They began to make accusations against him. They said, “We’ve found this man leading our people astray. He says they shouldn’t pay taxes to Caesar, and he claims to be the Messiah—a king.”
“What is truth?” Pilate retorted. Then he went out again to the Jews who were gathered there. He said, “I don’t find any basis for a charge against him.
Pilate came back out and said to the Jews who were gathered there, “Look, I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I haven’t found any basis for a charge against him.”