Matthew:27:11-26

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* Now Jesus stood before the governor ; and the governor asked him , "Are you the King of the Jews ?" Jesus said , "You have said so ." * But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders , he made no answer . * Then Pilate said to him , "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you ?" * But he gave him no answer , not even to a single charge ; so that the governor wondered greatly . * Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted . * And they had then a notorious prisoner , called Barab 'bas . * So when they had gathered , Pilate said to them , "Whom do you want me to release for you , Barab 'bas or Jesus who is called Christ ?" * For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up . * Besides , while he was sitting on the judgment seat , his wife sent word to him , "Have nothing to do with that righteous man , for I have suffered much over him today in a dream ." * Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab 'bas and destroy Jesus . * The governor again said to them , "Which of the two do you want me to release for you ?" And they said , "Barab 'bas ." * Pilate said to them , "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ ?" They all said , "Let him be crucified ." * And he said , "Why , what evil has he done ?" But they shouted all the more , "Let him be crucified ." * So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing , but rather that a riot was beginning , he took water and washed his hands before the crowd , saying , "I am innocent of this man 's blood ; see to it yourselves ." * And all the people answered , "His blood be on us and on our children !" * Then he released for them Barab 'bas , and having scourged Jesus , delivered him to be crucified .

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