Despite the words of the people, their actions did not condemn all Jews from that point on (as some anti-
Semites teach). Each person is guilty for their own sin before YHWH, although the effects of that sin may
continue for several generations.
27:26 And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified―Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be
crucified.‖
Summary of the Roman trialsThe first Roman trialThe Jewish trials of Y‘shua had been characterised by prejudice and hatred. The Romans, however, had no
personal feelings against Y‘shua, and the justice given by the Romans was famous.
We would expect Roman law to give Y‘shua a fair trial, but this was not to be the case; in fact, things got
worse. Frank Morison in his book, ̳Who Moved the Stone?‘ says:
―If anyone thinks that in approaching the trial of Jesus of Nazareth by Pontius Pilate he is approaching the
simple and the obvious, he is making a miscalculation. This thing is very subtle. Outwardly it has all the
placidity of still waters, but beneath the apparent stillness there are deep and hidden currents that make it
incomparably the greatest and most profoundly interesting psychological study in history. We do not get rid
of the mystery of Christ when we bring to the Roman bar; we increase it tenfold.‖
One of these mysteries is as to whether Pilate had come to some understanding with the Jewish authorities
before Y‘shua appeared before him on trial. The account of the trial shows that this is more than likely.
For starters, Pilate would not normally have held court on the day of the Jewish Passover. But the Gospels
record that as a concession to the Jewish authorities, he did agree to try Y‘shua straight away. The legalistic
Pharisees expected Pilate to simply ratify the death sentence already passed on to Y‘shua, as the Passover
sacrifices would start in a couple of hours. But much to their surprise, he refused to do this.
Then there is the urgent message sent by Pilate‘s wife to her husband while in court, ―don‘t have anything to
do with that innocent man.‖ It is difficult to explain this unless she had prior knowledge of the trial of Y‘shua.
Such knowledge could only have come from her husband, who in turn must have obtained it from the Jewish
authorities.
The fullest description of this trial is found in John‘s Gospel. This account could be of great interest to his
readers, many of whom would like Y‘shua, be compelled one day to stand before a Roman court because of
their faith.
We know that John, along with Peter, managed to gain entrance into the court of the High Priest. John may
have followed Y‘shua as he entered the praetorium, which was the official residence of Pilate. This would
explain the detailed account that John gives us of this trial and his description of the dramatic moment in
which Y‘shua confronts Pilate, his judge.
Roman courts also only began to sit shortly after daybreak. The Roman Seneca mentions ̳thousands
hurrying to the forum at the break of the day – how base their case is, and how much baser are their
advocates‘. Even in those days, lawyers were not popular! Caiaphas probably remitted the case to Pilate
around dawn, and the trial took place soon afterwards.
John records that to avoid ceremonial uncleanness, the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be
able to eat the Passover (John 18:28). So Pilate came out to them (John 18:29). Jews taught that the houses
of the Gentiles were ceremonially unclean, and that any Jew who entered them would also be considered
unclean for seven days afterwards and would not be able to observe the Passover Feast.
It is a sad commentary to find that Caiaphas and the Jewish authorities were concerned about a ceremonial
uncleanness that would prevent them from keeping the Passover; but they were not at all concerned about
Y‘shua, who claimed to be the Messiah. Instead they planned to kill Him.
This early morning trial of Y‘shua before Pilate was not a full trial according to Roman law. There was, in fact,
no need for Pilate to follow Roman legal procedure at all; for Y‘shua was not a Roman citizen but merely a