Matthew 27:15–23

^15aNow at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

¹⁶And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.

¹⁷So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? ¹Barabbas, or Jesus ^awho is called ²Christ?”

¹⁸For he knew that because of envy they had delivered Him over.

^19aNow while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that ^brighteous Man; for ¹last night I suffered greatly ^cin a dream because of Him.”

²⁰But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ^aask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

²¹But the governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

²²Pilate ^*said to them, “Then, what shall I do with Jesus ^awho is called ¹Christ?” They all ^*said, “Let Him be crucified!”

²³And he said, “Why, what evil did He do?” But they were crying out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”