2. They started accusing him and said, “We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and to stop paying taxes to the Emperor. He also claims that he is the Messiah, our king.”
3. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”“Those are your words,” Jesus answered.
4. Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd, “I don't find him guilty of anything.”
5. But they all kept on saying, “He has been teaching and causing trouble all over Judea. He started in Galilee and has now come all the way here.”
6. When Pilate heard this, he asked, “Is this man from Galilee?”
7. After Pilate learnt that Jesus came from the region ruled by Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
8. For a long time Herod had wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he finally had this chance. He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him perform a miracle.
9. Herod asked him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not answer.
16-17. I will just have him beaten with a whip and set free.”
18. But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill Jesus! Give us Barabbas!”
19. Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a riot in the city and had murdered someone.
20. Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds.
21. But they kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”
22. Pilate spoke to them a third time, “But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free.”
23. The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death.
24. Finally, Pilate gave in.
25. He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.