Jesus and Pilate

11  Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12  But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 13  Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 14  But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.

15  During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. 16  At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. 17  So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” 18  (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.) 19  As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.” 20  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21  The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22  Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” They all said, “Crucify him!” 23  He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”