⁹ And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.

¹² From then on ^(A)Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. ^(B)Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on ^(C)the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic^[a] Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was ^(D)the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.^[b] He said to the Jews, ^(E)“Behold your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, ^(F)“Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ^16 (G)So he ^(H)delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus,

³ asking as a favor against Paul^[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because ^(A)they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. ⁴ Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. ⁵ “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

⁶ After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on ^(B)the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him ^(C)that they could not prove. ⁸ Paul argued in his defense, “Neither ^(D)against ^(E)the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor ^(F)against Caesar have I committed any offense.” ⁹ But Festus, ^(G)wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”

²³ Then he gave orders to the centurion that he ^(A)should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that ^(B)none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

²⁴ After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^(C)faith ^(D)in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as he reasoned ^(E)about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. ^(F)When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” ²⁶ At the same time he hoped ^(G)that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. ²⁷ When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius ^(H)Festus. And ^(I)desiring to do the Jews a favor, ^(J)Felix left Paul in prison.

³² And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day ^(A)I finish my course.

²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.

²⁰ for Herod ^(A)feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he ^(B)heard him gladly.

The Death of John the Baptist

^14 (A)King Herod heard of it, for Jesus'^[a] name had become known. Some^[b] said, ^(B)“John the Baptist^[c] has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ^(A)Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that it was out ^(B)of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹ Besides, while he was sitting on ^(C)the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with ^(D)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ^(E)in a dream.” ²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^(F)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?” ^(G)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³ And he said, “Why? ^(H)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 ^(I)a riot was beginning, he took water and ^(J)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^(K)this man's blood;^{[a] (L)}see to it yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people answered, ^(M)“His blood be on us and ^(N)on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released for them Barabbas, and having ^(O)scourged^[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.