12
That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
13
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,
14
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him
15
Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
16
I will therefore have him flogged and release him."
18
Then they all shouted out together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!"
19
(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.
20
Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;
21
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!
22
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him."
23
But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.
24
So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.
25
He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
26
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.
28
But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29
For the days are surely coming when they will say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
30
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us'; and to the hills, "Cover us.'