² And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.^(A) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar^(B) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”^(C)

⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged^(A) Jason and some other believers^(B) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world^(C) have now come here,^{(D) 7} and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”^(E)

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king^(A) opposes Caesar.”

¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.^(A)

¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(A) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^{(B) 17} For it is better, if it is God’s will,^(C) to suffer for doing good^(D) than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(E) for sins,^(F) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(G) He was put to death in the body^(H) but made alive in the Spirit.^(I)

⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots^(A) among the Jews^(B) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene^(C) sect^(D)

²⁰ They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar^{(A) 21} by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans^(B) to accept or practice.”^(C)

³³ Pilate then went back inside the palace,^(A) summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”^(B)

³⁴ “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

³⁵ “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom^(C) is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.^(D) But now my kingdom is from another place.”^(E)

³⁷ “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.^(F) Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”^(G)

³⁰ “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”