The priests were in a dilemma. They saw that they must cloak their hypocrisy under the thickest concealment. They must not allow it to appear that Christ had been arrested on religious grounds. Were this put forward as a reason, their proceedings would have no weight with Pilate. They must make it appear that Jesus was working against the common law; then He could be punished as a political offender. Tumults and insurrection against the Roman government were constantly arising among the Jews. With these revolts the Romans had dealt very rigorously, and they were constantly on the watch to repress everything that could lead to an outbreak.

Nu var præsterne kommet i forlegenhed. De indså, at de måtte skjule deres hykleri med de groveste midler. De måtte ikke give det udseende af, at Kristus var blevet fængslet af religiøse årsager. Hvis dette blev fremført som grunden til fængslingen, ville deres fremgangsmåde ikke have nogen vægt over for Pilatus. De måtte få det til at se ud, som om Jesus arbejdede imod den borgerlige lov. Så kunne han straffes som politisk forbryder. Der opstod bestandig tumulter og oprør mod det romerske styre blandt jøderne. Romerne havde optrådt meget hårdhændet mod disse oprørsforsøg, og de var bestandig på vagt for at undertrykke alt, hvad der kunne føre til en ny rejsning.