JESUS BEFORE HEROD--MESSAGE TO PILATE FROM HIS WIFE.
And Jesus stood before the governor: and they began to accuse him,
saying, We found this _fellow_ perverting the nation, and forbidding to
give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And
Pilate the governor, asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?
And Jesus saith unto him,
Thou sayest.
And the chief priests accused him of many things: and when he was
accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? hearest thou
not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to
never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and _to_ the people, I find no
fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He stireth up
the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to
this place.
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galileean.
And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he
sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. And
when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see
him of a long _season_, because he had heard many things of him; and he
hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him
in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and
scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked _him_, and
arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before
they were at enmity between themselves.
And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King! But they cried out, Away
with _him_, away with _him_, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall
I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but
Cesar.
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers
and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one
that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined _him_
before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things
whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him; and,
lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise
him, and release _him_.
Now at _that_ feast the governor was wont to release unto the people one
prisoner, whomsoever they desired. (For of necessity he must release one
unto them at the feast.) And they had then a notable prisoner, called
Barabbas, _which lay_ bound with them that had made insurrection with
him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
And the multitude crying aloud began to desire _him to do_ as he had
ever done unto them. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate
said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus
which is called Christ, the king of the Jews? For he knew that the chief
priests had delivered him for envy.
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him,
saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered
many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests
and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask, that he should
rather release Barabbas unto them, and destroy Jesus. And they cried out
all at once, saying, Away with this _man_, and release unto us Barabbas:
(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast
into prison.)
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. Whether
of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. Pilate
saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called
Christ? _unto him_ whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out
again, saying, Crucify _him_; let him be crucified.
And the governor said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he
done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise
him, and let _him_ go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring
that he might be crucified. And they cried out the more exceedingly,
Crucify him.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but _that_ rather a
tumult was made, he took water, and washed _his_ hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see
ye _to it_. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood _be_ on
us, and on our children. And the voices of them and of the chief priests
prevailed. And _so_ Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence
that it should be as they required.
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into
prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus, when he had
scourged _him_, to their will, to be crucified.