And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
and said unto them, "Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth
the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault
in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod:
for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been
done by him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him."
Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one
prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called
Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in
the insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude went up and
began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them.
And Pilate answered them, saying, "Will ye that I release unto you the
King of the Jews?" For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had
delivered him up.
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they
should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
But the governor answered and said unto them, "Which of the two will ye
that I release unto you?"