Luke 23:1-25

1Then the entire assembly of them set out and 1brought Him before Pilate. 22And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this Man 3misleading our nation and 4forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is 5Christ, a King.” 3Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “6It is as you say.” 4But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “7I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man.” 5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, 8starting from Galilee, as far as this place!”

6Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to 9Herod, 10since he also was in Jerusalem 11at this time.

8Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for 12he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some 13sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him 14at some length; but 15He offered him no answer at all. 10Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him. 11And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, 16dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12And so 17Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

13Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the 1819rulers, and the people, 14and he said to them, “You brought this Man to me on the ground that 20He is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I 21have found no basis at all in the case of this Man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. 15No, nor has 22Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16Therefore I will 2324punish Him and release Him.” 17[25Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18But they cried out all together, saying, “26Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19(He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) 20But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this Man done wrong? I have found 27in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will 2829punish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out. 25And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.