Though ¹  they found ²  no basis ³  for a death sentence, ⁴  they asked Pilate to have him executed.

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat ¹  in the place called “The Stone Pavement” ²  (Gabbatha in ³  Aramaic). ⁴ 

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders ¹ ), ²  asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate ³  gave him permission, so he went and took the body away. ⁴ 

So Pilate asked them, ¹  “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?”

So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus ¹  Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” ² 

So ¹  Pilate asked him, “Are you the king ²  of the Jews?” He replied, ³  “You say so.” ⁴ 

So Pilate asked him again, ¹  “Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”

So Pilate spoke to them again, ¹  “Then what do you want me to do ²  with the one you call king of the Jews?”

Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, ¹  after he had Jesus flogged, ²  he handed him over ³  to be crucified.

Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, ¹  who was himself looking forward to ²  the kingdom of God, ³  went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴ 

Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He ¹  called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time.

Now ¹  there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² 

So ¹  Pilate asked Jesus, ²  “Are you the king ³  of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” ⁴ 

Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, ¹  dressing him in elegant clothes, ²  Herod ³  sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate told them, ¹  “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him ²  according to your own law!” ³  The Jewish leaders ⁴  replied, ⁵  “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” ⁶ 

So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, ¹  summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” ² 

Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? ¹  Your own people ²  and your chief priests handed you over ³  to me. What have you done?”

Pilate asked, ¹  “What is truth?” ²  When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders ³  and announced, ⁴  “I find no basis for an accusation ⁵  against him.

Again Pilate went out and said to the Jewish leaders, ¹  “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no reason for an accusation ²  against him.”

So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. ¹  Pilate ²  said to them, “Look, here is the man!” ³