And now a terrible scene was enacted. Priests, rulers, and scribes forgot the dignity of their sacred offices, and joined with the rabble in mocking and jeering the dying Son of God, saying, “If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself.” And some deridingly repeated among themselves: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God.” “And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross.” {3SP 155.2}

Jøderne så dette og bad Pilatus om at forandre indskriften. Ypperstepræsterne sagde til ham: "Skriv ikke: Jødernes konge, men Han sagde: Jeg er jødernes konge." Men Pilatus, som var ærgerlig på sig selv, fordi han havde vist sig så svag, og som hjertelig foragtede de listige misundelige præster og ældste, svarede koldt: "Hvad jeg skrev, det skrev jeg." (Joh 19,21.22)