In verse 25, John observes that Peter is still standing with the enemy and keeping himself warm by their fire. He is asked the same question in verse 17 and once again denies being a disciple, saying, "I am not." However, his denial does not change the truth of his identity. In verse 26, a relative of Malchus (mentioned in verse 10) asks if Peter was seen in the garden, and when he denies it, a rooster crows, just as Jesus had said. As Peter denied Jesus for the second and third time (vv. 25-27), Jesus was being taken from Caiaphas' house to the Roman governor, Pilate (v. 28). John notes that these events occurred in the early morning hours.

Ironically, Jesus' opponents are the ones who will bring about the fulfillment of the Passover by having him put to death. Jesus' enemies refuse to enter the governor's headquarters to maintain their purity for the Passover while rejecting its fulfillment. As a result, their concern for religious rituals and purity loses its significance. They are prioritizing something trivial and insignificant over what truly matters. Pilate went to ask the people questioning Jesus what charge they had against him. Pilate seemed unsure what to do and suggested they handle Jesus according to their laws. However, the Jews could not do this as the Romans did not allow them to carry out capital punishment (v. 31).

It is not clear where Pilate got the idea to ask Jesus if he was the "King of the Jews." Rumors about Jesus's status may have spread and reached Pilate, or maybe those who accused Jesus had shared their concerns with Pilate. Jesus responds to Pilate's query by clarifying that his kingdom is not of this world. Pilate's worries about his status in the empire and Rome's interests are addressed by Jesus' explanation that his kingdom is not worldly. Pilate's question, "What is truth?" may not be equivalent to the postmodern doubt regarding absolute truth. However, his duties may have prevented him from exploring the topic further, even if he genuinely wanted to know the answer. Pilate reassures the Jews that he is not worried about Jesus, suggesting that he does not see Jesus as a danger to Rome. He then suggests releasing Jesus in keeping with the tradition of releasing a prisoner for Passover. However, the crowd demands that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus.

Pilate declared that Jesus was not guilty, but he had Jesus flogged. This may have been an effort to persuade the Jews to spare Jesus' life and prevent them from demanding Jesus' execution. Pilate's decision to mistreat Jesus could have been an attempt to spare his life. Pilate might have assumed that publicly displaying Jesus in this manner would ease any worries the Jews had about him (v.4). It is difficult to imagine any leader of a rebellion recovering their reputation after being subjected to such humiliation. While Pilate is correct that Jesus is not guilty, he is mistaken about whether Jesus poses a threat to Rome or if he is a king whose potential takeover should cause concern for Pilate. It's surprising to see the Jews responding by crying out for him to be crucified. Even the pagan Roman is disgusted by this and encouraged them to carry out the injustice themselves. Since the Jews were not permitted to execute, they needed Rome to do it. These Jews are trying to kill the person who gives meaning and necessity to the law while pretending to be concerned about the law.

Pilate seemed frightened when he heard that Jesus claimed to be God's Son. He returned inside the headquarters, taking Jesus with him to avoid a public scene, and asked Jesus where he came from. However, Jesus did not provide an answer to this question. Pilate is upset that Jesus is not responding to him, so he tries to intimidate Jesus by reminding him that he can either set him free or have him crucified. Jesus replies that Pilate's authority over him is only possible because it was granted—God is in control of what is happening. Because Pilate's authority comes from God, Jesus says that the person who handed him over to Pilate is guilty of a greater sin.

After Pilate's unsuccessful attempt to intimidate Jesus, he tries to free him because he believes that Jesus is innocent. However, the Jews intimidate Pilate by claiming that releasing Jesus would be an act of disloyalty to Caesar since Jesus has declared himself as a king who opposes Caesar's rule. Surprisingly, the Jews, who are supposed to be eager to find God's kingdom, support Rome's kingdom. Their main goal is to eliminate Jesus, who brings God's kingdom. They are so determined to eliminate Jesus that they pretend to care about Caesar. When Pilate asks if they want their king to be crucified, the Jews reply that they have no king but Caesar (v. 15). Pilate shows disdain towards Jesus and the Jews. Eventually, Pilate orders Jesus to be crucified, and he is taken away.