3 The Jews replied, We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man.
4 He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of Rome.
5 We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross.
6 And Pilate said, Why do you bring him unto me? Go to, and judge him for yourselves.
7 You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a right to judge and right to execute.
8 The Jews replied, We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe that he should meet the most humiliating death—the death upon the cross.
9 But Pilate said, No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to defend himself;
10 So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, and judge by Roman law.
11 The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the Roman court, and they had added to the bill:
12 We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men shall pay no tribute to Tiberius.