Readings for Lent and Easter
11 After Herod and his soldiers had ·made fun of [ridiculed and mocked] Jesus, they dressed him in a ·kingly [elegant; splendid; L bright] ·robe [clothing] and sent him back to Pilate. 12 In the past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies, but on that day they became friends.
Jesus Must Die(A)
13 Pilate called together the ·leading [T chief] priests, the ·rulers [leaders] and the people. 14 He said to them, “You brought this man to me, saying he ·makes trouble among [misleads; subverts; incites] the people. But I have questioned him before you all, and I have not found ·him guilty of what you say [any basis for the charges]. 15 Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; [L because] he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing ·for which he should die [worthy/deserving of death]. 16 So, after I ·punish him [have him flogged], I will let him go free.” |17 Every year at the Passover Feast, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people.|[a]
18 But ·the people [L they] shouted together, “Take this man away [C for execution]! ·Let Barabbas go free [L Release Barabbas to/for us]!” 19 (Barabbas was a man who was in prison for his part in a ·riot [insurrection] in the city and for murder.)
20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free and [L again] ·told this to [appealed to; addressed] the crowd. 21 But they shouted again, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 A third time Pilate said to them, “Why? What ·wrong [crime; evil] has he done? I can find no reason to kill him. So I will have him ·punished [flogged] and set him free.”
23 But they continued to shout, demanding that Jesus be crucified. Their ·yelling became so loud [L voices prevailed so] that 24 Pilate decided to give them what they ·wanted [requested; demanded]. 25 He set free the man who was in jail for ·rioting [insurrection] and murder, and he handed Jesus over ·to them to do with him as they wished [or as they requested; L to their will].
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