1
Early in the morning the chief priests immediately came to a decision with the leaders and the scribes. The whole Jewish council decided to tie Jesus up, lead him away, and hand him over to Pilate.
2
Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, I am," Jesus answered him.
3
The chief priests were accusing him of many things.
4
So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!"
5
But Jesus no longer answered anything, so Pilate was surprised.
6
At every Passover festival, Pilate would free one prisoner whom the people asked for.
7
There was a man named Barabbas in prison. He was with some rebels who had committed murder during a riot.
8
The crowd asked Pilate to do for them what he always did.
9
Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to free the king of the Jews for you?"