Luke 23:1-25
Jesus Before Pilate
23Then their whole assembly rose up and abrought Him before Pilate. 2aAnd they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man bmisleading our nation and cforbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is 1Christ, a King.” 3So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “aYou yourself say it.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “aI find no guilt in this man.” 5But they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, astarting from Galilee even as far as this place.”
6Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to aHerod, who himself also was in Jerusalem in those days.
Jesus Before Herod
8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly; for ahe had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some 1sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him 1at some length, but aHe answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. 11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, adressed Him in a bright robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12Now aHerod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate Grants the Crowd’s Request
13And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the arulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who 1,aincites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I bhave found in this man no guilt of what you are accusing Him. 15“No, nor has aHerod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16“Therefore I will apunish Him and release Him.” 171[Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]
18But they cried out all together, saying, “aAway with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19(He had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city and for murder.) 20But again Pilate addressed them, wanting to release Jesus, 21but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22And he said to them a third time, “Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt worthy of death; therefore I will apunish Him and release Him.” 23But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices were prevailing. 24And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. 25And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.