Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Pilate and the Judaeans

²⁸ So they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, the governor’s residence. It was early in the morning. They didn’t themselves go inside the Praetorium. They were anxious not to pollute themselves, so that they would still be able to eat the Passover.

²⁹ So Pilate went outside and spoke to them.

“What’s the charge, then?” he asked. “What have you got against this fellow?”

³⁰ “If he wasn’t doing wicked things,” they replied, “we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

³¹ “Take him yourselves,” said Pilate to them, “and judge him by your own law.”

“We’re not allowed to put anyone to death,” replied the Judaeans. ³² (This was so that the word of Jesus might come true, when he had indicated what sort of death he was going to die.)