As the governor of Judea in 26-36 AD, he represented the occupying forces of the Roman Empire and was accountable to Emperor Tiberius himself. Pilate did not want the emperor to hear any rumors about Jewish rebellions. It was his right to pronounce a death sentence or withhold it.
Verses 1-15
- What impression do you get of Pilate’s character and his set of values?
- What do you think about a judge who asks questions like the ones in verses 12 and 14 during a trial?
- Why didn't Pilate use his authority but let others make decisions for him?
- What do you think Pilate really thought about Jesus? (Why did he call Jesus "king of the Jews" twice? Cf. verses 9 and 12.)
- Compare these two men with each other: the Roman governor and the king of the Jews. What are the most striking differences between them in this situation?
- Who settled this legal case in the end?
- How do you think Pilate felt when handing Jesus to be flogged and crucified (15)?
- How do you think Pilate tried to pacify his conscience for the rest of his life?
- If you had been in Pilate's shoes that morning, how would you have handled the case?
A murderer and a leader of a political rebellion, his name simply means the son of a father.
Verses 6-15
- Imagine the childhood, youth and manhood of this man. What had perhaps made Barabbas a revolutionary and a murderer?
- If your circumstances had been different, do you think you yourself could have become a murderer? Why? Why not?
- What kinds of thoughts do you think were going through the mind of Barabbas when the day of his execution was drawing closer? (Do you think he regretted anything?)
- Do you think Barabbas went to see the death of the person who was nailed to the cross instead of him?
- In what way are we all like Barabbas in relation to Jesus?
There was usually only one chief priest at a time, but in this case there were two: Caiaphas, the chief priest proper in the years 18-36 AD and his father in law Annas, who had held the post earlier. Annas still used his influence through his son in law.
Verses 1-15
- What do you think the chief priests regarded as their great calling in life?
- Why did Caiaphas and Annas envy Jesus?
- Why didn't the chief priests recognize their own motives?
- Which crime do you think was worse: the judicial murder committed by the chief priests or the murders Barabbas had committed during the rebellion?
- What may make a deeply religious person a tool in the hand of the devil?
- Do you think you resemble the chief priests in any way? If you do, in what way?
They cried "Hosanna" to Jesus the previous Sunday. Now they were shouting: "Crucify him!" There must have been some in this crowd who had personally been helped by Jesus.
Verses 8-15
- Why did the crowd want a dangerous murderer to be set free?
- How could the people let themselves be turned against their benefactor? (Why wasn't there even one voice for Jesus and against the manipulation of justice in this situation?)
- What would you have done if you had been in the crowd that morning?
- Do you think something like this could happen in our country in our day? Give your reasons.
- What does this text teach us about the good and bad sides of democracy?
He says one sentence during the whole trial (2). Otherwise he is silent.
Verses 1-15
- Until this moment Jesus had refused any title except "Son of Man." Why does he now admit publicly that he is the king of the Jews (2)?
- Why doesn’t Jesus defend himself?
- Compare Jesus with other people in this text. How is he different from them? (What makes Jesus so admirable, especially considering his situation?)
- How do you think Jesus felt about all those blood thirsty people around him?
- Who settled the case of Jesus during his trial: Pilate, God or Satan?