John 19:8-12

⁸Hey, when Pilate heard this statement he was more afraid than ever!

⁹So back into the Praetorium he went and says to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not answer him.

¹⁰So Pilate says to Him: “Are you not speaking to me? Don't you know that I have authority to crucify you and authority to release you?”

¹¹Jesus answered: “You would have no authority over me at all if it had not been given to you from Above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

¹²From that moment Pilate really tried to release Him; but the Jews kept shouting, saying: “If you release this fellow you are no friend of Caesar's! Whoever makes himself a king is opposing Caesar!”