Trial Before Pilate
Jesus Christ Superstar
PILATE
And so the king is once again my guest
And why is this? Was Herod unimpressed?
CAIAPHAS
We turn to Rome to sentence Nazareth
We have no law to put a man to death
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
PILATE
Talk to me Jesus Christ
You have been brought here
Manacled, beaten by your own people
Do you have the first idea why you deserve it?
Listen King of the Jews
Where is your kingdom?
Look at me. Am I a Jew?
JESUS
I have no kingdom in this world
I'm through
There may be a kingdom for me somewhere
If you only knew
PILATE
Then you are a king?
JESUS
It's you that say I am
I look for truth and find that I get damned
PILATE
But what is truth?
Is truth a changing law?
We both have truths
Are mine the same as yours?
MOB
Crucify him! Crucify him!
PILATE
What do you mean?
You'd crucify your king?
MOB
We have no king but Caesar!
PILATE
He's done no wrong
No, not the slightest thing
MOB
We have no king but Caesar!
Crucify him!
PILATE
What is this new respect for Caesar?
'Till now this has been noticeably lacking
Who is this Jesus? Why is he different?
You choose Messiahs by the sackfull
MOB
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
We need him crucified
It's all you have to do
PILATE
Talk to me, Jesus Christ
Look at your Jesus Christ
I'll agree he's mad
Ought to be locked up
But that is not a reason to destroy him
He's a sad little man
Not a King or God
Not a thief
I need a crime!
MOB
Crucify him!
PILATE
Behold a man
Behold your shattered King
MOB
We have no King but Caesar
PILATE
You hypocrites
You hate us more than him
MOB
We have no King but Caesar
Crucify him!
PILATE
I see no reason. I find no evil
This man is harmless, so why does he upset you?
He's just misguided, thinks he's important
But to keep you vultures happy I shall flog him
MOB
Crucify him! Crucify him!
(Thirty-nine lashes, Pilate counts)
PILATE
Where are you from Jesus?
What do you want Jesus?
Tell me
You've got to be careful
You could be dead soon
Could well be
Why do you not speak when
I hold your life in my hands?
How can you stay quiet?
I don't believe you understand
JESUS
You have nothing in your hands
Any power you have, comes to you from far beyond
Everything is fixed, and you can't change it
PILATE
You're a fool Jesus Christ
How can I help you?
MOB
Pilate, Crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You'll be demoted
You'll be deported. Crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You'll be demoted
You'll be deported. Crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You have a duty
To keep the peace, so crucify him!
Remember Caesar
You'll be demoted
You'll be deported. Crucify him!
PILATE
Don't let me stop your great self-destruction
Die if you want to, you misguided martyr
I wash my hands of your demolition
Die if you want to you innocent puppet!