Jesus or Barabbas

⁶ At^(A) the festival^(B) it was Pilate’s^(C) custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested. ⁷ There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder^(D) during the rebellion.^{(E) 8} The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. ⁹ So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King^(F) of the Jews^(G) for you?” ¹⁰ For he knew it was because of envy^(H) that the chief priests had handed Him over. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

¹² Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ Again they shouted, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁴ Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What has He done wrong?”

But they shouted, “Crucify Him!” all the more.

¹⁵ Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged,^[a] he handed Him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ Therefore, I will have Him whipped^[a](A) and then release Him.” [¹⁷ For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.]^[b](B)

¹⁸ Then^(C) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(D) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,^(E) addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(F) I have found in Him no grounds^(G) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices^[c] won out. ²⁴ So^(H) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(I) 25} and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.^(J)

³⁹ You^(A) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”^(B) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[a](C)

¹⁶ So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Therefore they took Jesus away.^[a]