John 19:13 Commentary and Bible Study

When Pilate heard the threats that were brought against him, ‘he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called the Pavement.’ Strictly speaking, the Hebrew word, Gabbatha means the stone pavement. It was an elevated stone terrace located somewhere on the front of the Fortress Antonia on the edge of the temple compound. There Pilate, a minor Roman governor, a procurator of a region, stands in judgement and passes sentence on – just imagine it – the Judge of all the earth. Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe and the coming Judge of all human beings, and Pilate passes judgement upon him. He regards him as innocent. He believes these are trumped up charges by jealous Jewish leaders and yet he pronounces him guilty.