Luke 23:1-2

And the whole multitude—arose, &c.— At break of day Christ was brought before Pilate, and charged with three capital crimes,—perverting the nation,—forbidding to give tribute to Caesar,—and saying that he himself was Christ, a king.They did not chargehim with calling himself the Son of God, knowing very well that Pilate would not have concerned himself with such an accusation, which no way affected the state. All the three crimes with which the Jews charge him, were only inferences of theirs from the saying that he was the Son of God; (Ch. Luke 22:70.) They themselves drew imaginary consequences from his doctrine, which he had expresslydenied; nay, and taught the contrary: they who oppose his followers, still use the same method. Pontius Pilate finding this, (for it is most probable that he examined them as to the precise words which Christ had spoken,) their accusation had no weight with him.