Study Desk

As^(a) soon as it was morning, the chief priests had a meeting with the elders,^(b) scribes,^(c) and the whole Sanhedrin.^(d) After tying Jesus up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.^(e)

So Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King^(f) of the Jews?"^(g) He answered him, "You have said it." ^[a]

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

Then Pilate^(h) questioned Him again, "Are You not answering anything? Look how many things they are accusing You of!"

But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.

At⁽ⁱ⁾ the festival^(j) it was Pilate's^(k) custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested.

There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder^(l) during the rebellion.^(m)

The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom.

So Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release the King⁽ⁿ⁾ of the Jews^(o) for you?"

For he knew it was because of envy^(p) that the chief priests had handed Him over.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

Pilate asked them again, "Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?"

Again they shouted, "Crucify Him!"

Then Pilate said to them, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they shouted, "Crucify Him!" all the more.

Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged,^[b] he handed Him over to be crucified.

Then^(q) the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters^(r)) and called the whole company together.

They dressed Him in a purple^(s) robe, twisted together a crown^(t) of thorns, and put it on Him.

And they began to salute Him, "Hail,^(u) King^(v) of the Jews!"

They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees,^(w) they were paying Him homage.

When they had mocked^(x) Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.