Jesus or Barabbas

⁶ At^(A) the festival^(B) Pilate^(C) used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder^(D) during the rebellion.^{(E) 8} The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. ⁹ Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king^(F) of the Jews^(G) for you?” ¹⁰ For he knew it was because of envy^(H) that the chief priests had handed him over. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. ¹² Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

¹³ Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”

¹⁴ Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^[a](A) and then release him.”^[b]

¹⁸ Then^(B) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(C) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus,^(D) Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(E) I have found in him no grounds^(F) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices^[c] won out. ²⁴ So^(G) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(H) 25} and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.^(I)

³⁹ You^(A) have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” ^(B) Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.^[a](C)

¹⁶ Then he handed him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Then they took Jesus away.^[a]