Jesus Returned to Pilate

Matthew 27:15-26

Now at that feast, the governor generally released a prisoner to the people that they chose. Currently, bar-Abbas1, a well-known prisoner, was in custody. So, when the crowd had grown, Pilate asked them, “Whom do you want me to release to you, bar-Abbas, or Jesus which is called the Messiah?” He asked, for he knew they had charged him out of resentment.

When he had set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, “Don’t do anything with that innocent man. I had a dream about him and am still troubled by it.”

But the chief priests and elders swayed the growing crowd to ask for bar-Abbas, and kill Jesus.

The governor called to the crowd, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, “bar-Abbas.”

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”

Together, they shouted, “Crucified him!”

But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?”

But the crowd cried more violently, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

When Pilate saw that he couldn’t sway them and that chaos was increasing, he took water and washed his hands before them, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this innocent person. You see to it.”

Then all the people answered and said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.”

Then he released bar-Abbas. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mark 15:6-14

Now at that feast he released a prisoner to them whom they chose. One prisoner, who was named bar-Abbas, had led an insurrection and killed some in the attack. And the growing crowd began to increase their loud cry to follow the custom.

But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him out of resentment.

But the chief priests stirred up the people to request the release of bar-Abbas to them. So, Pilate again called to them, “What do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?”

And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”

Then Pilate said again, “Why? What crime has he committed?”

And the mob grew more demanding, saying, “Crucify him.”

Luke 23:13-23

After Pilate had gathered the chief priests, the rulers, and the people who had come, said to them, “You have brought this man to me as one that perverts the people. But look, I have examined his case and find no involvement in what you are accusing him of doing. Not even Herod found anything when I sent you to him. For sure, nothing worthy of death was ever done by him. Therefore, I will punish him and release him.” (It was necessary to release one prisoner to them at the feast.)

But they cried out in unison, “Away with this man! Release bar-Abbas to us! (He had led an act of treason in the city and was imprisoned as a murderer.) So, Pilate wanting to release Jesus, asked them again. But they continued to shout, “Crucify him—crucify him!”

He said to them a third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I find no reason to kill him. What if I punish him and let him go?”

But they insisted loudly that he be crucified. And the voices of the mob and of the chief priests prevailed.

John 19:1-16

So, Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, put it on his head, dressed him in a purple robe, and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Moreover, they buffeted him around by striking him with their hands.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I have brought him before you so you know that I find no fault in him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

But, when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Then you take him and crucify him. I find no fault in him.”

The Jews replied, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die because he made himself to be the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard that, he was more concerned. He went back into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then he said to him, “Are you not going to answer me? Don’t you know that I, Pilate, have the power to crucify you or release you?”

Jesus answered, “You have no power over me except what is given to you from above. Therefore, he that brought me before you has the greater sin.”

After that, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews threatened him, saying, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Anyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

When Pilate heard that threat, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat on what is called the Pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now, it was about noon on the preparation day of the Passover. He said to the Judeans, “Behold your King!”

But they shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Then he gave him up to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.