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.

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.

Jesus Sentenced to Die^(A)

³⁹ “But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ They all shouted again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. ² The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. ³ They said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they hit Him with their hands.

⁴ Again Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” ⁵ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the Man!”

⁶ When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”

⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God!”

⁸ When Pilate heard these words, he was more afraid, ⁹ and entered the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to release You, and power to crucify You?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all over Me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to release Him. But the Jews cried out, “If you release this Man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement (which in Hebrew is Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the Day of Preparation of the Passover and about the sixth hour.

He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

¹⁶ Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion^(B)

So they took Jesus and led Him away.