Discovery BoxJohn 18:35-36 
Context18:35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? 1 Your own people 2 and your chief priests handed you over 3 to me. What have you done?”
18:36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being 4 handed over 5 to the Jewish authorities. 6 But as it is, 7 my kingdom is not from here.”
1 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.
2 tn Or “your own nation.”
3 tn Or “delivered you over.”
4 tn Grk “so that I may not be.”
5 tn Or “delivered over.”
6 tn Or “the Jewish leaders”; Grk “the Jews.” Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders, especially members of the Sanhedrin. See the note on the phrase “Jewish leaders” in v. 12. In the translation “authorities” was preferred over “leaders” for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Grk “now.”
