Study Desk

Then the entire assembly of them set out and ^(C1)brought Him before Pilate.

^(C1)And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, "We found this Man ^(C2)misleading our nation and ^(C3)forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is ^(F1)Christ, a King."

Now Pilate asked Him, saying, "So You are the King of the Jews?" And He answered him and said, "^(C1)It is as you say."

But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "^(C1)I find no grounds for charges in the case of this Man."

But they kept on insisting, saying, "He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, ^(C1)starting from Galilee, as far as this place!"

Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean.

And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to ^(C1)Herod, ^(F1)since he also was in Jerusalem ^(F2)at this time.

Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for ^(C1)he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some ^(F1)sign performed by Him.

And he questioned Him ^(F1)at some length; but ^(C1)He offered him no answer at all.

Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him.

And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, ^(C1)dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

And so ^(C1)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the ^(F1)(C1)rulers, and the people,

and he said to them, "You brought this Man to me on the ground that ^(C1)He is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I ^(C2)have found no basis at all in the case of this Man for the charges which you are bringing against Him.

"No, nor has ^(C1)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.

"Therefore I will ^(F1)(C1)punish Him and release Him."

[^(F1)Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

But they cried out all together, saying, "^(C1)Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!"

(He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.)

But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,

but they kept on crying out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!"

And he said to them a third time, "Why, what has this Man done wrong? I have found ^(F1)in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will ^(F2)(C1)punish Him and release Him."

But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.

And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out.

And 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.