⁵⁰ You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

⁴⁶ And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

⁸ And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

¹² Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’^[a] Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

⁴⁸ If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple^[a] and our nation.”