t the slightest belief. Had he
believed at all, he would probably have agreed with the Herodians, and
with those Jews who expected a powerful and victorious king. With such
impressions, the idea of the Jews accusing the poor miserable
individual whom they had brought into his presence of setting himself
up as the promised king and Messiah, of course appeared to him absurd;
but as the enemies of Jesus brought forward these charges in proof of
treason against the emperor, he thought it proper to interrogate him
privately concerning them.

'Art thou the king of the Jews,' said Pilate, looking at our Lord, and
unable to repress his astonishment at the divine expression of his
countenance.

Jesus made answer, 'Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others
told it thee of me?'

Pilate was offended that Jesus should think it possible for him to
believe such a thing, and answered, 'Am I a Jew? Thy own nation and the
chief priests have delivered thee up to me as deserving of death: what
hast thou done?'

Jesus answered majestically, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my
kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I
should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from
hence.'

Pilate was somewhat moved by these solemn words, and said to him in
a more serious tone, 'Art thou a king, then?'

Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born,
and for this I came into the world, that I should give testimony to the
truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.'

Pilate looked at him, and rising from his seat said, 'The truth! What
is truth?'

They then exchanged a few more words, which I do not now remember,
and Pilate returned to the terrace. The answers and deportment of Jesus
were far beyond his comprehension; but he saw plainly that his
assumption of royalty would not clash with that of the emperor, for
that it was to no worldly kingdom that he laid claim; whereas the
emperor cared for nothing beyond this world. He therefore again
addressed the chief priests from the terrace, and said, 'I find no cause
in him.' The enemies of Jesus became furious, and uttered a thousand
different accusations against our Saviour. But he remained silent,
solely occupied in praying for his base enemies, and replied not when
Pilate addressed him in these words, 'Answerest thou nothing? Behold in
how many things they accuse thee!' Pilate was filled with astonishment,
an