18
Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!”
19
(Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.)
20
Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.
21
But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22
For the third time he demanded, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”
23
But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed.
24
So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.
25
As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.