Christ told Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea: “You would have no authority at all against me unless it had been granted to you from above.” —John 19:11.
To Pontius Pilate, Jesus explained his main purpose in life when he said: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” —John 18:37.
(John 19:11) This did not mean that Pilate was personally put in position by God, but it meant that his life-and-death authority over Jesus was only by God’s permission.
(Luke 9:58; Mark 6:31; John 4:31-34) Shortly before his death, Jesus boldly stated before Pontius Pilate: “For this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.”