Jesus Sentenced to Die^(A)

¹⁵ Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing to the people a prisoner whom they chose. ¹⁶ They had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that they had handed Him over out of envy.

¹⁹ When he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man, for I have suffered much today in a dream on account of Him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and kill Jesus.

²¹ The governor answered, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, “Barabbas.”

²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

²³ The governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Let Him be crucified!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that unrest was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man. See to it yourselves.”

²⁵ Then all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(B)

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole detachment of soldiers before Him. ²⁸ They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, ²⁹ and when they wove a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a staff in His right hand. They knelt before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ³⁰ They spit on Him, and took the staff and hit Him on the head. ³¹ After they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

Jesus Sentenced to Die^(A)

⁶ Now at the feast he always released to them one prisoner, whomever they requested. ⁷ There was one named Barabbas, who had committed murder in the insurrection and was bound with the rebels. ⁸ The crowd began crying aloud, asking Pilate to do as he had always done for them.

⁹ He answered them, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over out of envy. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred the people, so that he should instead release Barabbas to them.

¹² Pilate answered them again, “What then would you have me do to Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ They again cried out, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁴ Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out even more, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁵ So Pilate, resolving to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(B)

¹⁶ The soldiers led Him away to Praetorium Hall, and they called together the entire battalion. ¹⁷ They clothed Him with a purple robe. And they wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, ¹⁸ and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They struck His head with a staff and spit on Him. And bowing their knees, they worshipped Him. ²⁰ When they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off of Him and put His own garments on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

Jesus Sentenced to Die^(A)

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You have brought this Man to me as one who incites the people. And truly, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him. ¹⁵ No, neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him. ¹⁶ I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.” ¹⁷ For he was obligated to release one man to them at the feast.

¹⁸ But they all cried out at once saying, “Take this Man away and release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ This man had been thrown in prison for an insurrection in the city and for murder.

²⁰ Therefore Pilate spoke to them again, desiring to release Jesus. ²¹ But they cried out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

²² He said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found in Him no cause worthy of death. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.”

²³ But they insisted with loud voices, asking that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave the sentence as they demanded. ²⁵ He released to them the man who was thrown in prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for. But he sentenced Jesus according to their will.