Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 27:11

"Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest." — Matthew 27:11 (ASV)

And Jesus stood before the governor — We may infer from the greater fullness with which St. John relates what passed between our Lord and Pilate that here, too, his acquaintance with the high priest gave him access to knowledge which others did not possess. We learn two key points from John's account:

1. In his first conversation with the accusers, Pilate endeavored to throw the onus of judging upon them and was met by their ostentatious disavowal of any power to execute judgment (John 18:28–32).
2. The single question that St. Matthew records was followed by a conversation in which our Lord declared that, though He was a King, His kingdom was not in the manner of the kingdoms of this world (John 18:33–38).

The impression this made on the governor’s mind explains the desire he felt to bring about, in some way, the release of the accused.