The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

^15 (A)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ^(B)Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out ^(C)of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on ^(D)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with ^(E)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ^(F)in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^(G)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” ^(H)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? ^(I)What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that ^(J)a riot was beginning, he took water and ^(K)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^(L)this man's blood;^{[a] (M)}see to it yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people answered, ^(N)“His blood be on us and ^(O)on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having ^(P)scourged^[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

^18 (A)But they all cried out together, ^(B)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— ¹⁹ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and ^(C)for murder. ²⁰ Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why? ^(D)What evil has he done? ^(E)I have found in him no guilt deserving death. ^(F)I will therefore punish and release him.” ²³ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison ^(G)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, ^(H)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

^39 (A)But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, ^(B)“Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.^[a]