Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 18:38

"Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him." — John 18:38 (ASV)

Pilate’s reply, “What is truth?” is difficult to interpret. Was it facetious, scornful, impatient, despairing, or sincere? Even from the context it is not possible to be sure what he meant. Pilate’s immediate response was to declare Jesus innocent of any crime that would have made him liable to punishment. He may have regarded him as a harmless philosopher or as an impractical dreamer. Certainly he did not look on Jesus as a dangerous subversive.