Now it was the custom at the Feast of Passover that the authorities would release a prisoner. And there was one notable prisoner, a murderer and a rebel against Rome named Barabbas.
And the multitude went up to Pilate and began demanding their annual gift of a released prisoner. Pilate saw this as an opportunity to escape his difficulties over Jesus.
When they had gathered together, Pilate asked them,
‘Would you like me to release Jesus, the King of the Jews? I have examined him, and I can find no fault in him.
Herod cannot find anything wrong with him either. According to your custom, I will chastise Jesus and then release him.
Or I can release Barabbas. Which would you like me to release to you, Barabbas, a murderer and a rebel or Jesus?’
But they cried out altogether, saying,
‘Away with this man, release Barabbas.’
While Pilate was sitting in the judgment seat, a message came from his wife. The message said,
‘I have had terrible dreams regarding this man Jesus, you must release him and have nothing further to do with him.’
The chief priests and the elders stirred up the multitude so that they should demand the release of Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
They cried out again saying,
‘Not his man, but Barabbas.’
Pilate spoke to them again trying to persuade them that he should release Jesus.
The crowds would hear none of it and began shouting,
‘Crucify, crucify him.’
They all said,
‘Let him be crucified.’
Pilate tried the third time, asking them,
‘What evil has this man done? I can find nothing in him that deserves death, I will chastise him and release him.’
But the crowds just became more agitated, saying,
‘Crucify him. Let him be crucified.’
Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
And the soldiers forced a crown of thorns on His head and put a purple robe around His neck. They came to Him and said,
‘Hail, King of the Jews!’
And they struck him with their hands.
Pilate hoped that the crowd would be satisfied with the humiliation and punishment of Jesus. He had Jesus brought out in front of the people wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to them,
‘Behold, the man!’
