The Crowd Calls For Jesus' Crucifixion

13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And behold, after examining him before you, I have found no fault in this man with respect to the accusations you are making against him, 15 and neither has Herod, for [fn]I sent you to him. Clearly he has done nothing that deserves death. 16 Therefore I will have him flogged and then release him.”

17 [fn]Now each year at the feast Pilate was obligated to release one prisoner for the people. 18 So they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wishing to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him [fn]no grounds for death. So I will have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they continued insistently with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified, and their voices [fn]prevailed, along with those of the chief priests. 24 So Pilate rendered his decision that their demand be granted. 25 He [fn]released the man they had been asking for, who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will.