Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the multitude, whomsoever they asked. And they had a notable prisoner called Barabbas, a robber, who, on account of a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison, bound with others in that insurrection, who also in the insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude coming up, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. Then Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers of the people. When therefore they were gathered together, he said to them, "Ye brought this Man to me as one perverting the people; and behold, I, having examined Him before you, found no fault in this Man touching the things whereof ye accuse Him: no, nor yet Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death hath been done by Him. I will, therefore, chastise Him and release Him. But ye have a custom that I should release one to you at the Passover: will ye, therefore, that I should release to you the King of the Jews? Whom do ye wish that I should release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?" For he knew that through envy the chief priests had delivered Him up.

Now as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that righteous Man; for I suffered much today in a dream because of Him."

But the chief priests and elders stirred up the multitude and persuaded them that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. Then the governor, answering, said to them, "Which of the two do ye wish that I release to you?" Then they cried out all together, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas. Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!" But Pilate, wishing to release Jesus, spake to them again and said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus, Who is called Christ' Whom ye call the King of the Jews?" And they all cried out again, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Let Him be crucified!"

Then Pilate said to them the third time, "Why, what evil hath this Man done? I found no cause for death in Him. I will chastise Him, therefore, and release Him." But they were importunate and cried out exceedingly with loud voices, "Crucify Him! Let Him be crucified!"

Then Pilate took Jesus, therefore, and scourged Him. And the soldiers, having platted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and put on Him a purple robe, and kept coming to Him and saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!' and they gave Him blows with their hands. Then Pilate went out again and saith to them, "Behold, I bring Him out to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him."

Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate saith to them, "Behold, the Man!" When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate saith to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him; for I find no fault in Him." The religious leaders answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."

When therefore Pilate heard this statement, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the palace again and saith to Jesus, "Whence art Thou?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith to Him, "Dost Thou not speak to me? Knowest Thou not that I have the power to release Thee, and have power to crucify Thee?" Jesus answered him, "Thou wouldst have no power over Me if it were not given thee from above; on this account he that delivered Me up to thee hath greater sin." From this, Pilate sought to release Him; but the religious leaders cried out, saying, "If Thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar's friend. Every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down upon the judgment seat in a place called "Pavement,' but in Hebrew, "Gabbatha." Now it was the preparation of the Passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" They, therefore, cried out, "Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate saith to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

So when Pilate saw that he gained nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man. See ye to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Now Pilate wished to satisfy the multitude, and their voices prevailed; and he gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. Then he released to them Barabbas, who for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will, to be crucified.