Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 19:11

"Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin." — John 19:11 (ASV)

Jesus looked on Pilate as simply an instrument in God’s purpose. The real guilt lay with those who had delivered Jesus to Pilate in the first place (i.e., Caiaphas and the Jewish hierarchy).