29‐31. As they entered not, Pilate, now first mentioned by St. John, went out to them and asked: *What accusation bring you against this man?* It is very likely he had already learned something of the nature of the accusation, either on the preceding night when the Roman soldiers were required for Gethsemani, or just now before coming out of his house, but he would naturally wish to have it made formally. They, having already pronounced Jesus deserving of death, and having brought Him to Pilate merely to have the sentence of death pronounced and executed without any formality of trial, are indignant at the Roman’s question, and reply as in verse 30: “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.” Pilate, wishing to shift from himself responsibility for Christ’s death, bids the Jews to take Him, and judge Him according to their own law. This they declined to do, alleging as a reason that the Romans had taken away from the Jews the power to punish by death. This, however, was merely an evasion, for they knew thoroughly that Pilate’s permission in the present case was sufficient warrant for their action, even if they put Jesus to death. But the motive of the Jewish leaders was to make the responsibility for His death, in the eyes of the Jewish people, rest upon the Romans. 32. Ut sermo Iesu impleretur 32. That the word of Jesus quem dixit, significans qua might be fulfilled which he morte esset moriturus. said, signifying what death he should die. 32. *That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled.* The refusal of the Jews to judge Jesus according to their own law came to pass, adds St. John, that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, in which He had foretold that He should die the death of the cross (John iii. 14; xii. 32‐34; Matt. xx. 19). Had He been punished according to Jewish law, having been judged a blasphemer, He should have been stoned to death, according to Levit. xxiv. 14: “Bring forth the blasphemer without the camp, and let them that heard him put their hands upon his head, and let all the people stone him.” 33. Introivit ergo iterum in 33. Pilate therefore went into praetorium Pilatus, et vocavit the hall again, and called Iesum, et dixit ei: Tu es rex Jesus, and said to him: Art Iudaeorum? thou the king of the Jews?