Pilate was disappointed and much displeased. When the Jews returned with their prisoner, he asked impatiently what they would have him do. He reminded them that he had already examined Jesus, and found no fault in Him; he told them that they had brought complaints against Him, but they had not been able to prove a single charge. He had sent Jesus to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, and one of their own nation, but he also had found in Him nothing worthy of death. "I will therefore chastise Him," Pilate said, "and release Him."

Pilatus blev skuffet og meget misfornøjet. Da jøderne vendte tilbage med deres fange, spurgte han dem utålmodigt, hvad de ville have, at han skulle gøre. Han mindede dem om, at han allerede havde forhørt Jesus og ikke fundet nogen skyld hos ham. Han sagde til dem, at de var kommet med beskyldninger mod ham, men at de ikke havde været i stand til at bevise en eneste af anklagerne. Han havde sendt Jesus til Herodes, fjerdingsfyrsten fra Galilæa, som var af deres eget folk, men heller ikke han havde fundet Jesus skyldig i noget, der fortjente døden. "Derfor vil jeg give ham en revselse og så løslade ham," sagde Pilatus.