The final verdict a note on the structure of Jesus' trial in the Gospel of John

Commonly, Jn. 19:16 is subdivided into two parts, the first is the end of Jesus' trial and the second is the beginning of the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion, thus neatly distinguishing between trial and execution. This paper challenges this view of things on grammatical and narratological grounds, arguing that even though some shifts take place in Jn. 19:16, the narrative of Jesus' trial in fact continues - against the background of the crucifixion - until Jn. 19:22, after which the narrative undergoes a much clearer shift in focus and theme from Jn. 19:23 onwards. This leads to the conclusion that not Pilate's handing over of Jesus in Jn. 19:16, but rather his statement in Jn. 19:22, "What I have written I have written," upholding his "proclamation" of Jesus as King of the Jews, is his final verdict on Jesus.