New Testament in a Year

Jesus Faces Pilate

23 Then^(A) their whole assembly rose up and brought him before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation, opposing payment of taxes^(B) to Caesar, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

³ So Pilate asked him,^(C) “Are you the king of the Jews?” ^(D)

He answered him, “You say so.”^[a]

⁴ Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds^(E) for charging this man.”

⁵ But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people,^(F) teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee^(G) where he started even to here.”

Jesus Faces Herod Antipas

⁶ When Pilate^(H) heard this,^[b] he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ Finding that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(I) who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸ Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some miracle^[c] performed by him. ⁹ So he kept asking him questions, but Jesus did not answer him.^{(J) 10} The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked^(K) him, dressed him in bright clothing,^(L) and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^[d](M) Previously, they had been enemies.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,^{(N) 14} and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.^(O) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(P) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^[e](Q) and then release him.”^[f]

¹⁸ Then^(R) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(S) 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,^(T) 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?^(U) I have found in him no grounds^(V) 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^[g] won out. ²⁴ So^(W) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(X) 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.^(Y)