Pilate was troubled. He had not thought it would come to that. He shrank from delivering an innocent man to the most ignominious and cruel death that could be inflicted. After the roar of voices had ceased, he turned to the people, saying, "Why, what evil hath He done?" But the case had gone too far for argument. It was not evidence of Christ's innocence that they wanted, but His condemnation.

Pilatus var kommet i vanskeligheder. Han havde ikke troet, at det skulle gå så vidt. Han veg tilbage for at udlevere en skyldfri mand til den mest vanærende og grusomme død, der var til. Da de høje skrig var holdt op, vendte han sig til folket og sagde: "Hvad ondt har han da gjort?" Men nu var sagen så vidt fremskreden, at man ikke hørte efter noget. Det var ikke beviser for Kristi skyldfrihed, de ville have, men hans domfældelse.