Luke 23:1–24

Jesus Faces Pilate

23Then ^rtheir whole assembly rose up and brought Him before Pilate. ²They began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes ^sto Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King.”

³So Pilate asked Him, ^t“Are You the King of the Jews?” ^u

He answered him, “You have said it.” ^v

⁴Pilate then told the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no grounds ^wfor charging this man.”

⁵But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people, ^xteaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee ^ywhere He started even to here.”

Jesus Faces Herod Antipas

⁶When Pilate ^zheard this, ^ahe asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷Finding that He was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, ^bwho was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle ^cperformed by Him. ⁹So he kept asking Him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. ^d10The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. ¹¹Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked ^eHim, dressed Him in a brilliant robe, ^fand sent Him back to Pilate. ¹²That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. ^ghPreviously, they had been hostile toward each other.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ⁱ¹⁴and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people. ^jBut in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds ^kto charge this man with those things you accuse Him of. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, because he sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶Therefore, I will have Him whipped ^lmand then release Him.” [¹⁷For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.] ^no

¹⁸Then ^pthey all cried out together, “Take this man away! ^qRelease Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹(He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, ^raddressed them again, ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

²²A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong? ^sI have found in Him no grounds ^tfor the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him.”

²³But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices ^uwon out. ²⁴So ^vPilate decided to grant their demand ^w