Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 18:34

"Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?" — John 18:34 (ASV)

Since he had shown sufficient interest in Jesus to confer with him personally, Jesus began to probe him to ascertain how sincere that interest might be. Was Pilate asking for information on his own initiative, or was he merely following a legal procedure at the instigation of the Jewish hierarchy?