¹⁵It was the governor’s practice at the Passover Feast to let one prisoner go free. The people could choose the one they wanted. ¹⁶At that time they had a well-known prisoner named Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to set free? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸Pilate knew that the leaders were jealous. He knew this was why they had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him a message. It said, “Don’t have anything to do with that man. He is not guilty. I have suffered a great deal in a dream today because of him.”

²⁰But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus put to death.

²¹“Which of the two do you want me to set free?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²²“Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

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

But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere. Instead, the crowd was starting to get angry. So he took water and washed his hands in front of them. “I am not guilty of this man’s death,” he said. “You are accountable for that!”

²⁵All the people answered, “We and our children will accept the guilt for his death!”

²⁶Pilate let Barabbas go free. But he had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

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