Submission to Authority

^13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,^[a] whether it be to the emperor^[b] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him ^(B)to punish those who do evil and ^(C)to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, ^(D)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ^16 (E)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but ^(F)living as servants^[c] of God. ^17 (G)Honor everyone. ^(H)Love the brotherhood. ^(I)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

^15 (A)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ^(B)Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out ^(C)of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on ^(D)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with ^(E)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ^(F)in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^(G)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?” ^(H)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? ^(I)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 ^(J)a riot was beginning, he took water and ^(K)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^(L)this man's blood;^{[a] (M)}see to it yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people answered, ^(N)“His blood be on us and ^(O)on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having ^(P)scourged^[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.