19
While he was sitting in court, his wife sent him a message, "Leave that innocent man alone. Today in a dream I suffered terribly because of him."
20
But the head cohanim persuaded the crowd to ask for Bar-Abba's release and to have Yeshua executed on the stake.
21
"Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?" asked the governor. "Bar-Abba!" they answered.
22
Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Yeshua, called `the Messiah'?" They all said, "Put him to death on the stake! Put him to death on the stake!"
23
When he asked, "Why? What crime has he committed?" they shouted all the louder, "Put him to death on the stake!"
24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "My hands are clean of this man's blood; it's your responsibility."
25
All the people answered, "His blood is on us and on our children!"
26
Then he released to them Bar-Abba; but Yeshua, after having him whipped, he handed over to be executed on a stake.
27
The governor's soldiers took Yeshua into the headquarters building, and the whole battalion gathered around him.
28
They stripped off his clothes and put on him a scarlet robe,
29
wove thorn-branches into a crown and put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then they kneeled down in front of him and made fun of him: "Hail to the King of the Jews!"