John 18:38-40

John 18:38-40

[38] Pilate  saith  unto him,  What  truth?  And  when he had said  he went out  again  unto  the Jews,  and  saith  unto them,  I  find  in  him  no  fault  [39] But  a custom,  that  I should release  one  at  the passover:  will ye  therefore  that I release  the King  of the Jews?  [40] Then  cried they  again,  saying,  Not  but  Barabbas.  Now  Barabbas  a robber. 

What does John 18:38-40 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

John condensed the scene in which Pilate declared Jesus innocent, the Jews accused Jesus further, Jesus replied nothing, and Pilate marveled at Jesus" silence ( Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5; Luke 23:4-6). He simply related Pilate"s verdict ( John 18:38 b). John also omitted the account of Jesus" appearance before Herod Antipas that followed this verdict and preceded Pilate"s offer to release Barabbas in Jesus" place ( Luke 23:6-12). The result of this selection of material is that John kept the focus of the reader"s attention on Jesus and Pilate.