The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

Pilate gathers the leaders and people and says he has found Jesus not guilty of the charges. He notes that Herod reached the same conclusion and says Jesus has done nothing deserving death. He proposes punishment followed by release.

T¹³hen Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. ¹⁶Therefore I will punish Him and release Him.”

The crowd cries for Barabbas and keeps demanding Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate asks what evil Jesus has done and repeats that he finds no offense worthy of death, but the shouting prevails. He sentences their demand, releases the insurrectionist, and hands Jesus over.

¹⁸But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, ²¹but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” ²²A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.” ²³But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed. ²⁴So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met. ²⁵As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.