027:011 Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Governor, and the latter
put the question, "Are you the King of the Jews?" "I am
their King," He answered.
027:012 When however the High Priests and the Elders kept bringing
their charges against Him, He said not a word in reply.
027:013 "Do you not hear," asked Pilate, "what a mass of evidence they
are bringing against you?"
027:014 But He made no reply to a single accusation, so that the Governor
was greatly astonished.
027:015 "Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release
some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;
027:016 and at this time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
027:017 So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them.
"Whom shall I release to you," he said, "Barabbas, or Jesus
the so-called Christ?"
027:018 For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been
brought before him.
027:019 While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him
from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man,"
she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly
in a dream through him."
027:020 The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd
to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.
027:021 So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two
shall I release to you?"--they cried, "Barabbas!"
027:022 "What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus,
the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted,
"Let him be crucified!"
027:023 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they kept on furiously shouting, "Let him be crucified!"
027:024 So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary
there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed
his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible
for this murder: you must answer for it."