In a friendly manner he put mocking questions to Him.

Did he really know anything special of God?
Would He not tell him too, for even heathens were sometimes curious about the Kingdom of Heaven?
How should a man set about loving a God whom no one had ever seen?
Or which among the gods was the true one?
And for the life of him he would like to know what truth really was.
Jesus said not a word.
"You do not seem to lack the virtue of pride," continued Pilate, "and that's in your favour.

You know, of course, in whose presence you stand, in the presence of one who has the power, to put you to death, or to set you free." Jesus was still silent.
The crowd which already filled the large courtyard became more and more noisy and unmanageable.

Rabbis slipped through it in order to fan the fire, and on all sides sentence of death was eagerly demanded.

Pilate shrugged his shoulders.