Mark 15:1-20

1Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin1 devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

2So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

4Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people2 a prisoner of their choosing. 7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.

9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. 10For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

12So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

13And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

14“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”

15And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

16Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together. 17They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head. 18And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

19They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him. 20After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.