Pilate was astonished at His bearing. Does this Man disregard the proceedings because He does not care to save His life? he asked himself. As he looked at Jesus, bearing insult and mockery without retaliation, he felt that He could not be as unrighteous and unjust as were the clamoring priests. Hoping to gain the truth from Him and to escape the tumult of the crowd, Pilate took Jesus aside with him, and again questioned, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?"

Pilatus undrede sig over den holdning, han indtog. Viser denne mand ligegyldighed for, hvad der sker, fordi han ikke bryder sig om at redde livet spurgte han sig selv. Medens han betragtede Jesus, der uden at tage til genmæle tålte spot og forhånelser, følte han, at denne mand ikke kunne være så uretfærdig og uhæderlig, som de højrøstede præster var. I håb om at få ham til at sige sandheden førte Pilatus Jesus til side og spurgte ham atter: "Er du jødernes konge?"