7
After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.
8
That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.
9
This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, “They took the thirty pieces of silver— the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10
and purchased the potter’s field, as the LORD directed. ”
11
Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
12
But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
13
“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded.
14
But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.
15
Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.
16
This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.
17
As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”