1As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, leaders, and the scribes talked together. They tied Jesus and took him before Pilate to be judged.
2Pilate asked him, `Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, `Yes, I am.'
3The chief priests brought many complaints against Jesus.
4Then Pilate asked him, `Have you nothing to say? These people are bringing many complaints against you!'
5But Jesus said nothing. Pilate was very much surprised about this.
6At the feast Pilate used to let one prisoner free. He let the people choose the man they wanted to go free.
7In the prison was a man named Barabbas. He had led some people who had been fighting in the city. He had killed a man.
8The people started shouting. They asked Pilate to let one prisoner free, as he used to do.
9Then Pilate asked, `Do you want me to let the King of the Jews go free?'
10He knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they brought Jesus to him.
11But the chief priests talked to the people. They told them to ask Pilate to let Barabbas go free.
12Pilate asked them, `Then what shall I do with the man whom you call King of the Jews?'
13They shouted back, `Nail him to a cross!'
14Pilate then asked, `Why, what wrong thing has he done?' But they shouted even more, `Nail him to a cross!'
15Pilate wanted to please the people, so he let Barabbas go free. He told the soldiers to beat Jesus and nail him to a cross.
