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?"