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character, and he had no confidence in the accusations of the priests.
Hoping to gain the truth from him, and to escape from the clamor of
the excited crowd, he requested Jesus to step with him into his house.
When he had done so, and the two were alone, Pilate turned to Jesus,
and in a respectful voice asked him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?”
Jesus did not directly answer this question. He knew that convic-
tion was awakened in the heart of Pilate, and he wished to give him an
opportunity to acknowledge how far his mind had been influenced in
the right direction. He therefore answered, “Sayest thou this thing of
thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?” The Saviour wished a state-
ment from Pilate whether his question arose from the accusations just
made by the Jews, or from his desire to receive light from Christ. Pilate
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longed for a more intelligent faith. The dignified bearing of Jesus, and
his calm self-possession when placed in a position where there would
naturally be developed a spirit of hate and revenge, astonished Pilate
and won his deep respect. The direct question just asked him by Jesus
was immediately understood by him, which evidenced that his soul
was stirred by conviction. But pride rose in the heart of the Roman
judge and overpowered the Spirit of God. “Pilate answered, Am I a
Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto
me; what hast thou done?”
Pilate’s golden opportunity had passed. Jesus, however, did not
leave him without farther light. At his desire God sent an angel to
Pilate’s wife; and, in a dream, she was shown the pure life and holy
character of the man who was about to be consigned to a cruel death.
Jesus did not directly answer the question of Pilate as to what he had
done; but he plainly stated to him his mission:—
“My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said
unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I
am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of
the truth heareth my voice.”
Jesus thus sought to convince Pilate that he was innocent of as-
piring to kingly honors upon earth. Pilate had been confused by the
disturbed and divided elements of the religious world, and his mind
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grasped eagerly at the words of Jesus declaring that he had come into