When the Saviour was brought into the judgment hall, Pilate looked upon Him with no friendly eyes. The Roman governor had been called from his bedchamber in haste, and he determined to do his work as quickly as possible. He was prepared to deal with the prisoner with 724 magisterial severity. Assuming his severest expression, he turned to see what kind of man he had to examine, that he had been called from his repose at so early an hour. He knew that it must be someone whom the Jewish authorities were anxious to have tried and punished with haste.

Da Frelseren blev ført ind i retssalen, betragtede Pilatus ham ikke med venlige blikke. Den romerske landshøvding var i stor hast blevet tilkaldt fra sit sovekammer, og han besluttede så hurtigt som muligt at blive færdig med sit arbejde. Han var parat til at behandle fangen med myndighed og strenghed. Med sit strengeste udtryk vendte han sig om for at se, hvad slags mand det var, som han skulle forhøre, siden han var blevet hidkaldt fra sin hvile i en så tidlig time. Han vidste, at det måtte være en eller anden, som de jødiske myndigheder var ivrige efter at få forhørt og straffet i største hast.