Immediately, in the morning, the
chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes
and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and
delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Jesus, "Are You
the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered and said to him, "It is as you say."
And the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, but He
answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Jesus again, saying,
"Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify
against You!"
But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Now at the feast he was accustomed
to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And
there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow
rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the
multitude, crying aloud, began to ask Pilate to do what he had
always done for them. But Pilate answered them saying, "Do
you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" For he
knew that the chief priests had handed Jesus over because of
envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he
should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said
to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him
whom you call the King of the Jews?"
So they cried out again,
"Crucify Him!" Then Pilate said to them, "Why
what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more,
"Crucify Him!" So Pilate, wanting to gratify the
crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after
he had scourged Him to be crucified.
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