Luke 23:8–25

Jesus before Herod

⁸Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for ^ahe had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some ¹sign performed by Him.

⁹And he questioned Him ¹at some length; but ^aHe answered him nothing.

¹⁰And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.

¹¹And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, ^adressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

¹²Now ^aHerod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

¹³Pilate summoned the chief priests and the ^arulers and the people,

¹⁴and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who ^aincites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I ^bhave found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

¹⁵“No, nor has ^aHerod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

¹⁶“Therefore I will ^apunish Him and release Him.”

¹⁷¹Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.

¹⁸But they cried out all together, saying, “^aAway with this man, and release for us Barabbas!”

¹⁹(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

²¹but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

²²And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will ^apunish Him and release Him.”

²³But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

²⁴And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

²⁵And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.