John 18:31-33

Expanded Bible

³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But ·we are not allowed [it is not legal for us] to put anyone to death,” the Jews answered. [^CThe Jewish people had to concede the authority for capital punishment to their Roman occupiers.] ³² (This happened so that what Jesus said about how he would die [^Cby crucifixion rather than stoning] would ·come true [^Lbe fulfilled; see 12:32–33].)

³³ Then Pilate went back inside the ·palace [headquarters; ^LPraetorium] and called Jesus to him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”