Mark 15:6-15

Living Bible

⁶ Now, it was Pilate’s custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover time—any prisoner the people requested. ⁷ One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, convicted along with others for murder during an insurrection.

⁸ Now a mob began to crowd in toward Pilate, asking him to release a prisoner as usual.

⁹ “How about giving you the ‘King of Jews’?” Pilate asked. “Is he the one you want released?” ¹⁰ (For he realized by now that this was a frameup, backed by the chief priests because they envied Jesus’ popularity.)

¹¹ But at this point the chief priests whipped up the mob to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.

¹² “But if I release Barabbas,” Pilate asked them, “what shall I do with this man you call your king?”

¹³ They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

¹⁴ “But why?” Pilate demanded. “What has he done wrong?” They only roared the louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Then Pilate, afraid of a riot and anxious to please the people, released Barabbas to them. And he ordered Jesus flogged with a leaded whip, and handed him over to be crucified.