¹⁵Every year at the time of Passover the governor would free one prisoner whom the people chose. ¹⁶At that time there was a man in prison, named Barabbas, ⁿ who was known to be very bad. ¹⁷When the people gathered at Pilate’s house, Pilate said, “Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas ⁿ or Jesus who is called the Christ?” ¹⁸Pilate knew that they turned Jesus in to him because they were jealous.

¹⁹While Pilate was sitting there on the judge’s seat, his wife sent this message to him: “Don’t do anything to that man, because he is innocent. Today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”

²⁰But the leading priests and elders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be killed.

²¹Pilate said, “I have Barabbas and Jesus. Which do you want me to set free for you?”

The people answered, “Barabbas.”

²²Pilate asked, “So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?”

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³Pilate asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?”

But they shouted louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴When Pilate saw that he could do nothing about this and that a riot was starting, he took some water and washed his hands ⁿ in front of the crowd. Then he said, “I am not guilty of this man’s death. You are the ones who are causing it!”

²⁵All the people answered, “We and our children will be responsible for his death.”

²⁶Then he set Barabbas free. But Jesus was beaten with whips and handed over to the soldiers to be crucified.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

nBarabbas Some Greek copies read “Jesus Barabbas.”
nBarabbas Some Greek copies read “Jesus Barabbas.”
nwashed his hands He did this as a sign to show that he wanted no part in what the people did.