18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s residence. 1 (Now it was very early morning.) 2 They 3 did not go into the governor’s residence 4 so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal.
1 tn Grk “to the praetorium.”
sn The permanent residence of the Roman governor of Palestine was in Caesarea (Acts 23:35). The governor had a residence in Jerusalem which he normally occupied only during principal feasts or in times of political unrest. The location of this building in Jerusalem is uncertain, but is probably one of two locations: either (1) the fortress or tower of Antonia, on the east hill north of the temple area, which is the traditional location of the Roman praetorium since the 12th century, or (2) the palace of Herod on the west hill near the present Jaffa Gate. According to Philo (Embassy 38 [299]) Pilate had some golden shields hung there, and according to Josephus (J. W. 2.14.8 [2.301], 2.15.5 [2.328]) the later Roman governor Florus stayed there.
2 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
3 tn Grk “And they.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.
4 tn Grk “into the praetorium.”
5 tn Grk “They answered and said to him.”
6 tn Grk “this one.”
7 tn Or “an evildoer”; Grk “one doing evil.”
8 tn Or “would not have delivered him over.”
9 sn Many have seen in Pilate’s reply “I am not a Jew, am I?” the Roman contempt for the Jewish people. Some of that may indeed be present, but strictly speaking, all Pilate affirms is that he, as a Roman, has no firsthand knowledge of Jewish custom or belief. What he knows of Jesus must have come from the Jewish authorities. They are the ones (your own people and your chief priests) who have handed Jesus over to Pilate.
10 tn Or “your own nation.”
11 tn Or “delivered you over.”