Readings for Lent and Easter

¹¹ Even^[a] Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus^[b] and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² So Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. Before this they had been enemies.

Jesus is Sentenced to Death^(A)

¹³ Then Pilate called the high priests, the other^[c] leaders, and the people together ¹⁴ and told them, “You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him ‘Not Guilty’ of the charges you make against him. ¹⁵ Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man^[d] has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ So I will punish him and let him go.”

¹⁷ Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival.^{[e] 18} But they all shouted out together, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas for us!” ¹⁹ (This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) ²⁰ But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, ²¹ but they continued to shout, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² Then he spoke to them a third time: “What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go.” ²³ But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus^[f] be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail.

²⁴ Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out. ²⁵ So he released the man who had been put in prison for revolt and murder—the man whose release^[g] they continued to demand—but he let them have their way with Jesus.^[h]