33 Therefore Pilate aentered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “bAre You the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this 1on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”

36 Jesus answered, “aMy kingdom 1is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not 2of this realm.”

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “aYou say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, bto testify to the truth. cEveryone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

38 Pilate * said to Him, “What is truth?”

And when he had said this, he awent out again to the Jews and * said to them, “bI find no guilt in Him.

39 “aBut you have a custom that I release someone 1for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release 1for you the King of the Jews?”

40 So they cried out again, saying, “aNot this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Chapter 19

The Crown of Thorns

1 Pilate then took Jesus and 1ascourged Him.

2 aAnd the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him;

3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “aHail, King of the Jews!” and to bgive Him slaps in the face.

4 Pilate acame out again and * said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that bI find no guilt in Him.”

5 Jesus then came out, awearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate * said to them, “Behold, the Man!”

6 So when the chief priests and the aofficers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate * said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for bI find no guilt in Him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “aWe have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He bmade Himself out to be the Son of God.”

8 Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;

9 and he aentered into the 1Praetorium again and * said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But bJesus gave him no answer.

10 So Pilate * said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

11 Jesus answered, “aYou would have no authority 1over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason bhe who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

12 As a result of this Pilate 1made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “aIf you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king 2opposes Caesar.”

13 Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and asat down on the judgment seat at a place called 1The Pavement, but bin 2Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14 Now it was athe day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the 1bsixth hour. And he * said to the Jews, “Behold, cyour King!”

15 So they cried out, “aAway with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate * said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

The Crucifixion

16 So he then ahanded Him over to them to be crucified.