"Whosoever maketh himself a king," they continued, "speaketh against Caesar." This was touching Pilate in a weak point. He was under suspicion by the Roman government, and he knew that such a report would be ruin to him. He knew that if the Jews were thwarted, their rage would be turned against him. They would leave nothing undone to accomplish their revenge. He had before him an example of the persistence with which they sought the life of One whom they hated without reason.

Enhver, som gør sig selv til konge, sætter sig op imod kejseren, fortsatte de. Dette var at ramme Pilatus på et ømt sted. Han var under mistanke fra den romerske regering, og han vidste, at en sådan indberetning ville blive hans endeligt. Han vidste, at hvis jødernes planer blev krydset, ville deres raseri vende sig mod ham. De ville ikke lade noget ugjort for at opnå at få hævn. Lige for sine egne øjne havde han et eksempel på, hvor ihærdige de var, når de stræbte en, som de hadede, efter livet, én, som de hadede uden grund!