Luke 23:13-25

New Century Version

Jesus Must Die

¹³ Pilate called the people together with the leading priests and the rulers. ¹⁴ He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying he makes trouble among the people. But I have questioned him before you all, and I have not found him guilty of what you say. ¹⁵ Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing for which he should die. ¹⁶ So, after I punish him, I will let him go free.” [¹⁷ Every year at the Passover Feast, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people.]^[a]

¹⁸ But the people shouted together, “Take this man away! Let Barabbas go free!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas was a man who was in prison for his part in a riot in the city and for murder.)

²⁰ Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free and told this to the crowd. ²¹ But they shouted again, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² A third time Pilate said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I can find no reason to kill him. So I will have him punished and set him free.”

²³ But they continued to shout, demanding that Jesus be crucified. Their yelling became so loud that ²⁴ Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. ²⁵ He set free the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, and he handed Jesus over to them to do with him as they wished.