Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?”

The ¹  next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees ²  assembled before Pilate

Pilate said to them, “Take ¹  a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.”

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

Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom. ¹ 

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

Then ¹  Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation ²  against this man.”

That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, ¹  for prior to this they had been enemies. ² 

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 

Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” ¹  They all said, “Crucify him!” ² 

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.

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 

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?”

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 

So Pilate said, ¹  “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have the authority ²  to release you, and to crucify you?” ³