Matthew 27:11-26

Jesus before Pilate

11 ¹Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the ²King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "³It is as you say."

12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, ⁴He did not answer.

13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"

14 And ⁵He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.

15 ⁶Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.

16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus ⁷who is called Christ?"

18 For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

19 ⁸While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, "Have nothing to do with that ⁹righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly ¹⁰in a dream because of Him."

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ¹¹ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

21 But the governor 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 ¹²who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!"

23 And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!"

24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that ¹³a riot was starting, he took water and ¹⁴washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of ¹⁵this Man's blood; ¹⁶see to that yourselves."

25 And all the people said, "¹⁷His blood shall be on us and on our children!"

26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus ¹⁸scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 27:11-14: {Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:2, 3; John 18:29-38}
• 2. Matthew 2:2
• 3. Matthew 26:25
• 4. Matthew 26:63; John 19:9
• 5. Matthew 27:12; Mark 15:5; Luke 23:9; John 19:9
• 6. Matthew 27:15-26: {Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:17-25;} John 18:39-19:16
• 7. Matthew 1:16; Matthew 27:22
• 8. John 19:13; Acts 12:21; Acts 18:12, 16; Acts 25:6, 10, 17
• 9. Matthew 27:24
• 10. Genesis 20:6; Genesis 31:11; Numbers 12:6; Job 33:15; Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12f, 19, 22
• 11. Acts 3:14
• 12. Matthew 1:16
• 13. Matthew 26:5
• 14. Deuteronomy 21:6-8
• 15. Matthew 27:19
• 16. Matthew 27:4
• 17. Joshua 2:19; Acts 5:28
• 18. Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16; John 19:1

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "word"
• [b] Lit "crowd"
• [c] Lit "today"
• [d] Lit "answered and said to them"
• [e] Lit "Let Him be crucified"
• [f] Lit "Let Him be crucified"
• [g] Or "to them"