3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

I have never understood what Luke is telling us here. Does Jesus really mean that at one time Pilate recognized him as a king? Or is Jesus response basically flippant?, More or less: “You got it, baby!”
On either alternative, why does Pilate take it so coolly? I would have guessed that if Jesus claimed to be some kind of king, that would be insurrection. If he was cracking jokes, that would be contempt of the government. Either one would be a “basis for a charge” against Jesus.

Looking forward to being set straight.