1
At earliest dawn, after the High Priests had held a consultation with the Elders and Scribes, they and the entire Sanhedrin bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.
2
So Pilate questioned Him. "Are *you* the King of the Jews?" he asked. "I am," replied Jesus.
3
Then, as the High Priests went on heaping accusations on Him,
4
Pilate again and again asked Him, "Do you make no reply? Listen to the many charges they are bringing against you."
5
But Jesus made no further answer: so that Pilate wondered.
6
Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment;
7
and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection had committed murder.
8
So the people came crowding up, asking Pilate to grant them the usual favour.
9
"Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.
10
For he could see that it was out of sheer spite that the High Priests had handed Him over.