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1Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any oneprisonerwhom they wanted.
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At that time they were holding a notoriousprisoner, calledBarabbas.
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So when the peoplegatheredtogether, Pilatesaid to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, orJesus2who is calledChrist?"
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For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
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3While he was sitting on the judgmentseat, his wifesent him a message, saying, "Have nothing to do with that 4righteousMan; for lastnight I sufferedgreatly5in a dreambecause of Him."
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But the chiefpriests and the elderspersuaded the crowds to 6ask for Barabbas and to putJesus to death.
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But the governorsaid to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas."
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Pilatesaid to them, "Thenwhat shall I do with Jesus7who is calledChrist?" They allsaid, "Crucify Him!"
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And he said, "Why, whatevil has He done?" But they kept shoutingall the more, saying, "Crucify Him!"
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When Pilatesaw that he was accomplishingnothing, but rather that 8a riot was starting, he tookwater and 9washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I aminnocent of 10thisMan'sblood; 11see to that yourselves."
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And all the peoplesaid, "12His blood shall be on us and on our children!"