Luke 23:1–24

Jesus before Pilate

²³Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus^q before Pilate.^{* 2}They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”^{r* 3}Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.”^{* 4}Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.”^{* 5}But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

Jesus before Herod

⁶When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.^{* 8}When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.^{* 9}He questioned him at some length, but Jesus^s gave him no answer. ¹⁰The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. ¹¹Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.^{* 12}That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.^*

Jesus Sentenced to Death

¹³Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.^{* 15}Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”^t*

¹⁸Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!”^{* 19}(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) ²⁰Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²²A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.”^{* 23}But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.