1. THEN THE whole assembly of them got up and conducted [Jesus] before Pilate.
2. And they began to accuse Him, asserting, We found this Man perverting (misleading, corrupting, and turning away) our nation and forbidding to pay tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), a King!
3. So Pilate asked Him, Are You the King of the Jews? And He answered him, [It is just as] you say. [I AM.]
4. And Pilate said to the chief priests and the throngs, I find no guilt or crime in this Man.
5. But they were urgent and emphatic, saying, He stirs up and excites the people, teaching throughout all Judea–from Galilee, where He began, even to this place.
6. Upon hearing this, Pilate asked whether the Man was a Galilean.
7. And when he found out [certainly] that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him up to Herod [a higher authority], who was also in Jerusalem in those days.
8. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had eagerly desired to see Him for a long time because of what he had heard concerning Him, and he was hoping to witness some sign (some striking evidence or spectacular performance) done by Him.
9. So he asked Him many questions, but He made no reply. [Isa. 53:7.]
10. Meanwhile, the chief priests and the scribes stood by, continuing vehemently and violently to accuse Him.
11. And Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and scoffed at and ridiculed Him; then, dressing Him up in bright and gorgeous apparel, he sent Him back to Pilate. [Isa. 53:8.]
12. And that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other–[though] they had been at enmity before this.
13. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,