Matthew 27:15-26

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

15 ¹Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or ²Jesus who is called Christ?"

18 For he knew that it was out ³of envy that they had delivered him up.

19 Besides, while he was sitting on ⁴the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with ⁵that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today ⁶in a dream."

20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ⁷ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"⁸They all said, "Let him be crucified!"

23 And he said, "Why, ⁹what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that ¹⁰a riot was beginning, he took water and ¹¹washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of ¹²this man's blood;^[a]13see to it yourselves."

25 And all the people answered, ¹⁴"His blood be on us and ¹⁵on our children!"

26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having ¹⁶scourged^[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.