When Jesus to Pilate, the governor of the country, Pilate asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "That's how you say," replied Jesus.
But on charges filed by the chief priests and elders against Him, He did not give any answer.
So Pilate said to him, "Do You not hear everything they say to you that?"
But Jesus did not answer at all so the governor was surprised.
Now at the Feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free for the people any one prisoner whom they chose.
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas.
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Who do you want me to release to you? Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?"
Pilate said so because he knows that the Jewish rulers handed him over to him because they envy.
At the time Pilate was sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent this message to him, "you shalt not interfere in cases of innocent man, because through him, I got a horrible dream today."
But the chief priests and Jewish leaders continued to incite the crowd to ask Pilate to release Barabbas and Jesus put to death.
Again the governor said to them, Which of the two do you wish me to release for you? And they said, Barabbas!
Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?
"But what is his crime?" asked Pilate. Then they shouted louder, "Crucify him!"
Pilate finally realized that he could not do anything anymore and that people might rebel. So he took water, and then in front of crowds that he washed his hands and said, "I am not responsible for the death of this man! That's your affair!"
And all the people answered, Let His blood be on us and on our children!
Then Pilate release Barabbas for them, and sent the whipping of Jesus, and hand him over to be crucified.
