Pilate's court

It was noted that Pilate appears as an advocate pleading Jesus' case rather than as a judge in an official hearing.

[1] In the Gospel of John (18:28–19:13), his "to-ing and fro-ing", that is, Pilate's back and forth movement from inside the praetorium to the outside courtyard, indicates his "wavering position".

Early pilgrims to Jerusalem generally identified the praetorium with the Antonia Fortress, where the traditional Way of the Cross begins.

However, the archaeological evidence, which dates the fortress remnants to the 2nd century CE, as well as the tense situation requiring Pilate to be near the Second Temple as the center of Passover activity, support the Herod's Palace location.

[4] Fearing defilement, the Sanhedrin elders did not enter the court, and Pilate's discussion with them occurred outside the praetorium.

[clarification needed] From the three charges brought by the Pharisees leaders (perverting the nation, forbidding the payment of tribute, and sedition against the Roman Empire), Pilate picks up on the third one, asking: "Are you the King of the Jews?".

He also notes that "these archeological remains fit very well with John's description of the place of Jesus' temporary incarceration and the trial in front of Pilate, and with the two topographical features that are mentioned by him, the lithostrotos and gabbatha.