Study Desk

Jesus Before Pilate ^(a)Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man ^(b)misleading our nation and ^(c)forbidding us to give tribute to ^(d)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, ^(e)a king." ^(f)And Pilate asked him, ^(g)"Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, ^(h)"You have said so." Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ⁽ⁱ⁾"I find no guilt in this man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, ^(j)from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to ^(k)Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, ^(l)for he had long desired to see him, ^(m)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping ⁽ⁿ⁾to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers ^(o)treated him with contempt and ^(p)mocked him. Then, ^(q)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And ^(r)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and ^(s)the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man ^(t)as one who was misleading the people. And ^(u)after examining him before you, behold, I ^(v)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for ^(w)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. ^(x)I will therefore punish and release him."^[a]