Jesus Before Pilate

And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

And the high priest arose and said unto him, "Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?"

But Jesus held his peace.

Then the high priest said unto him, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed?"

And Jesus said, "I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Then the chief priest rent his clothes and saith, "What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. What think ye?"

They answered and said, "He is guilty of death."

And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, "Prophesy who is he that smote thee?"

And many other things spake they against him.

And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate, and began to accuse him, saying, "We found this fellow saying that he is Christ, a king."

Then Pilate said unto him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered him, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?"

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation have delivered thee unto me. What hast thou done?"

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence."

Pilate therefore said unto him, "Art thou a king, then?"

Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

Pilate saith unto him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this he said to the Jews, "I find in him no fault at all."

And they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirreth up the people."

Now at that feast Pilate set free unto them one prisoner, whom they would. And there was one named Barabbas who was a robber; therefore when they were gathered together Pilate said unto them, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"

For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people. And they cried out all at once, saying, "Away with this man, and give unto us Barabbas."

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them, "What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?"

But they cried, saying, "Crucify him." Then Pilate saith unto them, "Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore scourge him and let him go. "

And they cried out the more, "Crucify him, crucify him."

Then Pilate took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See ye to it." Then answered all the people, "His blood be on us and on our children."

And so Pilate set free unto them Barabbas whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will.