John 18:35

Pilate’s reply clarified that he had no personal interest in Jesus’ kingship, and he was indignant that Jesus would suggest such a thing. He simply wanted to understand what Jesus was claiming in view of the Sanhedrin’s accusation. Beyond that, he wanted to discover why the Jewish leaders were so intent on doing away with Jesus. His question, "Am I a Jew?" sarcastically denied that Jewish matters such as Jesus’ kingship were of any interest to him personally. Ironically Jesus was Pilate’s King. [Note: Cf. P. Duke, Irony in the Fourth Gospel, pp. 129-30.] Pilate’s comment about Jesus’ own people handing Him over to him confirmed John’s statement that Jesus came unto His own, but His own did not receive Him (1:11).