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

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

^33 (A)So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, ^(B)“Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, ^(C)“My kingdom ^(D)is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, ^(E)my servants would have been fighting, that ^(F)I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

²⁴ After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^(A)faith ^(B)in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as he reasoned ^(C)about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. ^(D)When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” ²⁶ At the same time he hoped ^(E)that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. ²⁷ When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius ^(F)Festus. And ^(G)desiring to do the Jews a favor, ^(H)Felix left Paul in prison.

⁶ And when they could not find them, ^(A)they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, ⁷ and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against ^(B)the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is ^(C)another king, Jesus.”

² And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man ^(A)misleading our nation and ^(B)forbidding us to give tribute to ^(C)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, ^(D)a king.” ^3 (E)And Pilate asked him, ^(F)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, ^(G)“You have said so.” ⁴ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ^(H)“I find no guilt in this man.” ⁵ But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, ^(I)from Galilee even to this place.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” ^17 (A)For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and ^(B)bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. ^18 (C)For John had been saying to Herod, ^(D)“It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod ^(E)feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he ^(F)heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod ^(G)on his birthday ^(H)gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, ^(I)up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 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.