12
When however the High Priests and the Elders kept bringing their charges against Him, He said not a word in reply.
13
"Do you not hear," asked Pilate, "what a mass of evidence they are bringing against you?"
14
But He made no reply to a single accusation, so that the Governor was greatly astonished.
15
"Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;
16
and at this time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
17
So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them. "Whom shall I release to you," he said, "Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?"
18
For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been brought before him.
19
While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."
20
The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.
21
So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!"
22
"What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"