Readings for Lent and Easter

15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, leaders, and the scribes talked together. They tied Jesus and took him before Pilate to be judged.

² Pilate asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, `Yes, I am.'

³ The chief priests brought many complaints against Jesus.

⁴ Then Pilate asked him, `Have you nothing to say? These people are bringing many complaints against you!'

⁵ But Jesus said nothing. Pilate was very much surprised about this.

⁶ At the feast Pilate used to let one prisoner free. He let the people choose the man they wanted to go free.

⁷ In the prison was a man named Barabbas. He had led some people who had been fighting in the city. He had killed a man.

⁸ The people started shouting. They asked Pilate to let one prisoner free, as he used to do.

⁹ Then Pilate asked, `Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'

¹⁰ He knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they brought Jesus to him.

¹¹ But the chief priests talked to the people. They told them to ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free.

¹² Pilate asked them, `Then what shall I do with the man whom you call King of the Jews?'

¹³ They shouted back, `Nail him to a cross!'

¹⁴ Pilate then asked, `Why, what wrong thing has he done?' But they shouted even more, `Nail him to a cross!'