1
At dawn's first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.
2
Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"
3
The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.
4
Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations."
5
Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.
6
It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for.
7
There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome.
8
As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner,
9
Pilate anticipated them: "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?"
10
Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him.
11
But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas.