Matthew 27:15–26

^15aNow at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the ¹people any one prisoner whom they wanted.

¹⁶At 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? Barabbas, or Jesus ^awho is called Christ?”

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

^19aWhile 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 ¹said 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 Christ?” They all said, “¹Crucify Him!”

²³And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “¹Crucify Him!”

²⁴When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that ^aa riot was starting, he took water and ^bwashed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of ^cthis Man’s blood; ^dsee to that yourselves.”

²⁵And all the people said, “^aHis blood shall be on us and on our children!”

²⁶Then he released Barabbas ¹for them; but after having Jesus ^ascourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.