¹⁴ Then ^(A)the king, when he heard these words, ^(B)was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

⁷ The Jews^[a] answered him, “We have a law, and ^(A)according to that law he ought to die because ^(B)he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, ^(C)he was even more afraid. ^9 (D)He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, ^(E)“Where are you from?” But ^(F)Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, ^(G)“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore ^(H)he who delivered me over to you ^(I)has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on ^(J)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. ^(K)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests and ^(A)the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man ^(B)as one who was misleading the people. And ^(C)after examining him before you, behold, I ^(D)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither did Herod, for ^(E)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. ^16 (F)I will therefore punish and release him.”^[a]

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

^18 (G)But they all cried out together, ^(H)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and ^(I)for murder. ²⁰ Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”

¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ^(A)Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out ^(B)of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on ^(C)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with ^(D)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ^(E)in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^(F)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” ^(G)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? ^(H)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that ^(I)a riot was beginning, he took water and ^(J)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^(K)this man's blood;^{[a] (L)}see to it yourselves.”

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar ^(A)in furious rage commanded that ^(B)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.

²⁸ Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. ^29 (A)May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without ^(B)one who has a discharge or who is ^(C)leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!”