Scene 9: Jesus is Brought to Pilate

Pilate! We're calling for you!

It was morning and Caiaphas and the Chief Priests would not enter the palace themselves. There was a paschal meal to be eaten and they must not be defiled by entering the house of a gentile.

What do you want?

The Centurion Longinus makes them wait while he gets Pilate. Not content with waiting the Temple Guards shout for Pilate until he appears.
Pilate is the man placed in charge of this troublesome province where the locals just wouldn't accept they had been conquered and accept their fate. He had already had to forcefully quell a couple of rebellions and had been told not to get in trouble again. So watch this exchange between Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas as both play verbal and other games to establish dominance and get what they want.

Pilate, looking down at the belligerent crowd, and Jesus held by the Temple Guards, asks the question, "What charge do you bring against this man?"

We're watching you

Caiaphas replied, "If he were not a criminal we would not be handing him over to you."
Pilate tells them, "Take him yourselves and try him by your own law."
Caiaphas responds with, "We are not allowed to put a man to death."

This was to fulfil the words of Jesus indicating the way he would die.
Pilate was at first amused, curious why the Jewish people would bring one of their own for death.

Did you say Galilee? That's Herod's jurisdiction.

One of the chief priests then claims, "This man is subverting the loyalty of our people, he forbids the payment of tribute to Caesar, and calls himself Christ the King."
Pilate then questions Jesus about being a king until Jesus says, "It is you who say it. Yes I am a King. I was born for this day. I came into the world for this; to bear witness to the truth, and all who are on the side of truth shall listen to my voice."
Pilate, not realising the answer is standing right in front of him, then utters his most famous line, "What is truth?"

Here is the criminal.

He then announces to Caiaphas, "I can find no fault in this man."
That is not what Caiaphas wants to hear so the Chief Priests start making new accusations that may convince Pilate.
"He rouses sedition among the people"
And then one says, "He has gone round the whole of Judea preaching, beginning in Galilee and ending here."
Pilate's ears pricked up at the word Galilee and a he seizes on a great escape route.
"Galilee? That’s Herod’s juisdiction. Take him to Herod and let him deal with this man."
Satisfied that he has nicely dealt with today's problem, he dismisses the Jews with their prisoner and goes back inside.

Herod was overjoyed at seeing Jesus. For a long time Herod had been eager to have sight of Jesus because he had heard so much of him and now Herod hoped to witness some miracles.
Herod asked Jesus many questions but could get no answer from him, although the Chief Priests and scribes stood there, loudly accusing Jesus. So Herod made fun of Jesus, arraying him in festal clothes out of mockery and sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate, who up to this point were enemies, from that day now became friends.
Herod too, advises that he cannot put a man to death. Displeased with Herod’s judgment, Caiaphus and the Chief Priests return to the Praetorium and once again demand an audience with Pilate.