Pilate Releases Barabbas
13 So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people
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[and] said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people, and behold, [when I] examined [him] before you, I found nothing in this man as basis for the accusation which {you are making} against him
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But neither [did] Herod, because he sent him back to us. And behold, nothing deserving death {has been done} by him.
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Therefore I will punish him [and] release [him]."
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But they all cried out in unison, saying, "Take this man away, and release for us Barabbas!"
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(who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and [for] murder)
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And Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed [them] again,
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but they kept crying out, saying, "Crucify! Crucify him!
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So he said to them a third [time], "Why? What wrong has this man done? I found no basis for an accusation {deserving death} in him. Therefore I will punish him [and] release [him]."
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But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries [that] he be crucified. And their cries prevailed.
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And Pilate decided [that] their demand should be granted.
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And he released the one who had been thrown into prison because of insurrection and murder, whom they were asking for, but Jesus he handed over to their will.