Book of Common Prayer
Aid for Jerusalem
25 Now, though, I am going to Jerusalem to render service to God’s people there. 26 Macedonia and Achaea, you see, have happily decided to enter into partnership with the poor believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were eager to do this, and indeed they owe them a debt. If the nations have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, it is right and proper that they should minister to their earthly needs. 28 So when I have completed this, and tied up all the loose ends, I will come via you to Spain. 29 And I know that when I come to you I shall come with the full blessing of the Messiah.
30 I urge you, my dear family, through our Lord Jesus the Messiah and through the love of the spirit: fight the battle for me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 so that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judaea, and so that my service for Jerusalem may be welcomed gladly by God’s people. 32 If this happens, I will come to you in joy, through the will of God, and be refreshed by being with you. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Jesus and Barabbas before Pilate
11 So Jesus stood in front of the governor.
“Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked him.
“If you say so,” replied Jesus.
12 The chief priests and elders poured out their accusations against him, but he made no answer.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear all this evidence they’re bringing against you?”
14 He gave him no answer, not even a word, which quite astonished the governor.
15 Now the governor had a custom. At festival time he used to release one prisoner for the crowd, whoever they chose. 16 Just then they had a famous prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the people were all gathered there, Pilate said to them, “Who do you want me to release for you? Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Messiah?” 18 (He knew that they’d handed him over out of sheer envy.)
19 While he was presiding in the court, his wife sent a message to him.
“Don’t have anything to do with that man,” she said. “He’s innocent! I’ve had a really bad time today in a dream, all because of him.”
20 The high priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus killed. 21 So when the governor came back to them again, and asked, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” they said, “Barabbas!”
22 “So what shall I do with Jesus the so-called Messiah?” asked Pilate.
“Let him be crucified!” they all said.
23 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What’s he done wrong?”
But they shouted all the louder, “Let him be crucified!”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.