John 18:28–19:16

Jesus before Pilate

²⁸Then ⁱthey took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. ^jIt was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

²⁹Then Pilate ^kcame out to them and said, “What charge ^ldo you bring against this man?”

³⁰They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, ^mwe wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.”

³¹So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal ⁿfor us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. ³²They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die. ^o

³³Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” ^p

³⁴Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?”

³⁵“I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

³⁶“My kingdom ^qis not of this ^•world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, ^rMy servants ^stwould fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” ^uv

³⁷“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world ^wfor this: to testify ^xto the truth. ^yEveryone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

³⁸“What is truth?” said Pilate.

Jesus or Barabbas

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds ^zfor charging Him. ³⁹You ^ahave a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” ^bNow Barabbas was a revolutionary. ^cd

Jesus Flogged and Mocked

19Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. ²The soldiers also twisted together a crown ^eof thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. ³And they repeatedly came up to Him ^fand said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.

⁴Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds ^gfor charging Him.”

Pilate Sentences Jesus to Death

⁵Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. ^hPilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁱ

⁶When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him.”

⁷“We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die, ^jbecause He made Himself ^kthe Son of God.” ^l

⁸When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹He went back into the headquarters ^mand asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer. ⁿ¹⁰So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”

¹¹“You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.” ^op

¹²From that moment Pilate made every effort ^qto release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

¹³When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning. ^rThen he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

¹⁵But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Therefore they took Jesus away. ^s