⁴² And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.

¹⁹ But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.

And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done ^(A)nothing wrong.”

^15 (A)So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be ^(B)crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(C)

^16 (D)Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called ^[a]Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. ¹⁷ And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, ¹⁸ and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ Then they ^(E)struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. ²⁰ And when they had ^(F)mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

³ This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.