John 18 29

John 18:29 kjv

Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

John 18:29 nkjv

Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

John 18:29 niv

So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"

John 18:29 esv

So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

John 18:29 nlt

So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, "What is your charge against this man?"

John 18 verses

John 18 29 Meaning

Pilate’s question, "What is accusation?" is a direct challenge to the Jewish leaders' demands. It seeks specific charges against Jesus. This implies a demand for legal grounds, revealing the accusers' lack of substantive claims. It highlights the Roman governor’s position, acting as the arbiter in a matter brought before him, yet bound by perceived procedural requirements.

John 18 29 Context

This verse occurs during Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. The Jewish leaders, having already tried and condemned Jesus under their own law, now bring him to the Roman governor. They are seeking Pilate’s authority to execute Jesus. Pilate, as the Roman prefect, is the ultimate judicial and executive power in Judea. He addresses the accusers, demanding a specific legal reason for Jesus’ apprehension and delivery into Roman custody. The Jewish leaders are reluctant to specify charges, relying on the accusation that Jesus is an evildoer, a vague claim insufficient for Roman jurisdiction without more substance. This exchange highlights the political and religious tensions of the time, as well as the Romans' need for a demonstrable crime against their law.

John 18 29 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): and, also, even. A common conjunction connecting clauses or phrases. Here it links Pilate’s inquiry to the preceding context of Jesus being brought to him.

• εἶπεν (eipen): he said. Aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular of λέγω (lego), meaning to speak, say. Refers to Pilate's utterance.

• οὖν (oun): therefore, then, consequently. Indicates a logical conclusion or sequence. It suggests that, because Jesus had been handed over, Pilate naturally asked for the grounds.

• αὐτοῖς (autois): to them. Dative plural of αὐτός (autos), meaning self, he, she, it. Refers to the chief priests and the crowd.

• Πιλᾶτος (Pilatos): Pilate. The Roman governor of Judea.

• “Καὶ (kai): and. Again, connecting Pilate's words.

• τί (ti): what. Interrogative pronoun. The core of Pilate’s question.

• κατηγορία (kategoria): accusation, charge. The specific fault or offense. This is a key legal term, requiring concrete charges.

• φέρουσιν (pherousin): you bring. Present active indicative, 3rd person plural of φέρω (pherō), meaning to bear, carry, bring. The accusers are the ones bringing the charges.

• τὸν (ton): the. Definite article, accusative singular masculine. Refers to "man."

• ἄνθρωπον (anthrōpon): man, human being. Accusative singular of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos). Refers to Jesus.

• τοῦτον (touton): this. Demonstrative pronoun, accusative singular masculine. Emphasizes Jesus specifically.

• Phrase analysis:

  • “Καὶ τί φέρετε κατηγορίαν…” (Kai ti pherete katēgorian): The construction “what accusation you bring” is a direct request for the prosecution's case. It’s a procedural demand in a legal setting.

John 18 29 Bonus Section

Pilate's demand for specific charges is in line with Roman legal procedure. Accusations needed to be clear and demonstrable to initiate a trial, especially one that could lead to a capital offense. The Jewish leaders' response, "If he were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over to you," is a tactic to leverage their authority and imply a conviction without providing evidence. This circular reasoning attempts to shift the burden of proof onto Pilate to find fault, rather than presenting their case. The entire episode serves to illustrate Jesus' suffering without "a crime deserving death" (Luke 23:15), as even Pilate himself acknowledged. This lack of a clear, provable charge is consistent with Old Testament principles of justice which demanded multiple witnesses and clear evidence (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15).

John 18 29 Commentary

Pilate's question, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" is more than just a formality; it exposes the flimsiness of the charges. The Jewish leaders, unable to articulate a crime that falls under Roman jurisdiction or is provable to Pilate, resort to vague accusations or demands based on their own laws, which Pilate largely disregards. This reflects a pattern seen elsewhere in the Gospels where Jesus' accusers struggle to provide valid charges that stand up to scrutiny by external authorities. Pilate’s questioning, even if motivated by political expediency rather than justice, forces the accusers to reveal their lack of a solid case. This highlights Jesus' innocence in the eyes of Roman law, at least as presented by his accusers at this point. The interaction underscores the superficiality of their accusations compared to the deep theological and spiritual claims made about Jesus.