⁵ But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from ^(A)Galilee to this place.”

Jesus Faces Herod

⁶ When Pilate heard ^[a]of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. ⁷ And as soon as he knew that He belonged to ^(B)Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ Now when Herod saw Jesus, ^(C)he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because ^(D)he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. ⁹ Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him ^(E)nothing. ¹⁰ And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. ^11 (F)Then Herod, with his ^[b]men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day ^(G)Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.

Taking the Place of Barabbas^(H)

^13 (I)Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ said to them, ^(J)“You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, ^(K)having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; ¹⁵ no, neither did Herod, for ^[c]I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. ^16 (L)I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” ^17 (M)(for^[d] it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast).

¹⁸ And ^(N)they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.

²⁰ Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. ²¹ But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

²² Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.”

²³ But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men ^[e]and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴ So ^(O)Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. ^25 (P)And he released ^[f]to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus^(A)

19 So then ^(B)Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ² And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ^3 [a]Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they ^(C)struck Him with their hands.

⁴ Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, ^(D)that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate’s Decision

⁵ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

^6 (E)Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

⁷ The Jews answered him, ^(F)“We have a law, and according to ^[b]our law He ought to die, because ^(G)He made Himself the Son of God.”

⁸ Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹ and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” ^(H)But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have ^[c]power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, ^(I)“You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore ^(J)the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. ^(K)Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

^13 (L)When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now ^(M)it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

¹⁵ But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, ^(N)“We have no king but Caesar!”

^16 (O)Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus ^[d]and led Him away.