Early in the morning of the day afterwards called Good Friday the Jews
brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to
have the sentence of death confirmed. Not wishing to defile themselves,
the Jews kept outside of the hall of judgment, and Pilate came out to
them and asked: What accusation bring ye against this Man? They
answered: He perverts the people and forbids paying tribute to Caesar,
and calls Himself Christ, a King. Pilate took him into the hall of
judgment and asked: Art Thou a King? Jesus answered: I am King; but my
kingdom is not of this world; for then my servants would have fought for
me. I came into the world to bear witness unto the truth. Every one who
is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate perceived that Jesus was
innocent and would gladly have set Him free; but he feared the priests
and the scribes, therefore he dared not do it openly, but went out to
the people and said: Ye have a custom that I should release a prisoner
at the Passover. Whom will ye have, Jesus or Barabbas? The priests
stirred up the people against Jesus, and they cried: Away with Him! But
give us Barabbas. Now, Barabbas was a murderer and robber.
Pilate then, hoping to excite the pity of the people, delivered Jesus to
the soldiers to be scourged. And the soldiers stripped off His clothes
and scourged Him; then they threw around Him a purple robe, put a reed
in His hand and a crown of thorns upon His head, and fell down before
Him and shouted: Hail, Thou King of the Jews! And they struck Him on the
head with the reed. And Pilate brought Him out to the people and said:
Behold the Man! But the Jews cried: Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate
still sought to set Him free, but they cried: If thou release this Man,
thou art not Caesar’s friend! Then Pilate took water and washed his
hands before the people and said: I am innocent of the blood of this
righteous Man! They said: His blood be upon us and upon our children!
Then he delivered Jesus to be crucified. (All the Gospels.)