¹⁵Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. ¹⁶At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. ¹⁷So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. ¹⁹While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.” ²⁰But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. ²¹“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. ²²“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. ²³“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?”