The Daily Audio Bible

¹⁵ Now the governor had a custom. At festival time he used to release one prisoner for the crowd, whoever they chose. ¹⁶ Just then they had a famous prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the people were all gathered there, Pilate said to them, “Who do you want me to release for you? Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Messiah?” ¹⁸ (He knew that they’d handed him over out of sheer envy.)

¹⁹ While he was presiding in the court, his wife sent a message to him.

“Don’t have anything to do with that man,” she said. “He’s innocent! I’ve had a really bad time today in a dream, all because of him.”

²⁰ The high priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus killed. ²¹ So when the governor came back to them again, and asked, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” they said, “Barabbas!”

²² “So what shall I do with Jesus the so-called Messiah?” asked Pilate.

“Let him be crucified!” they all said.

²³ “Why?” asked Pilate. “What’s he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the louder, “Let him be crucified!”

²⁴ Pilate saw that it was no good. In fact, there was a riot brewing. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.

“I’m not guilty of this man’s blood,” he said. “It’s your problem.”

²⁵ “Let his blood be on us!” answered all the people. “And on our children!”

²⁶ Then Pilate released Barabbas for them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus mocked and crucified

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the barracks, and gathered the whole regiment together. ²⁸ They took off his clothes and dressed him up in a scarlet military cloak. ²⁹ They wove a crown out of thorns and stuck it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt down in front of him.

“Greetings, King of the Jews!” they said, making fun of him.

³⁰ They spat on him. Then they took the reed and beat him about the head. ³¹ When they had finished mocking him, they took off the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him off to crucify him.