The Story of Pontius Pilate

Mark 15:1–15 WEB

¹Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders, scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. ²Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered, “So you say.” ³The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” ⁵But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled. ⁶Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked of him. ⁷There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. ⁹Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. ¹²Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³They cried out again, “Crucify him!” ¹⁴Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.