The shouting became louder, and some of the teachers of the Law who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly: "We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him!"

I found out that he had not done a thing for which he deserved to die or be put in prison; the accusation against him had to do with questions about their own law.

and after leaving they said to each other, "This man has not done anything for which he should die or be put in prison."

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no reason to condemn this man."

and said to them, "You brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people. Now, I have examined him here in your presence, and I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of.

"And what is truth?" Pilate asked. Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, "I cannot find any reason to condemn him.

If I have broken the law and done something for which I deserve the death penalty, I do not ask to escape it. But if there is no truth in the charges they bring against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to the Emperor."

Then Festus, after conferring with his advisers, answered, "You have appealed to the Emperor, so to the Emperor you will go."