¹²While the chief priests and leaders were accusing him, he said nothing. ¹³Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they’re bringing against you?”

¹⁴But Jesus said absolutely nothing to him in reply, so the governor was very surprised.

The Crowd Rejects Jesus—Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–25; John 18:39, 40

¹⁵At every Passover festival the governor would free one prisoner whom the crowd wanted. ¹⁶At that time there was a well-known prisoner by the name of Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the people gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which man do you want me to free for you? Do you want me to free Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ?” ¹⁸Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.

¹⁹While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, “Leave that innocent man alone. I’ve been very upset today because of a dream I had about him.”

²⁰But the chief priests and leaders persuaded the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.

²¹The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to free for you?”

They said, “Barabbas.”

²²Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”

“He should be crucified!” they all said.

²³Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!”

²⁴Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!”

²⁵All the people answered, “The responsibility for killing him will rest on us and our children.”

²⁶Then Pilate freed Barabbas for the people. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

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