The Complete Sayings of Jesus

Christ Haled before Pilate: Pilate's Dilemma — "Crucify Him" — Pilate Vacillates: Sends Jesus to Herod, Who Sends him Back — Jesus Scourged — Pilate Delivers Jesus to be Crucified.

A.D. 30. Age 33 Jerusalem.

John 18, 28-40; 19, 1-16: Luke 23, 1-11; 13-25: Mark 15, 1-15: Matthew 27, 11-26.

THE whole council arose and led Jesus away from the high priest, Caiaphas, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor, in the hall of judgment. Pilate went out unto them, and said, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews answered, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of Jews? Jesus answered, 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, 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 unto the truth. very one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate answered, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye that I release the King of the Jews? Then cried they all, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. The chief priests and the officers cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered, By our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate heard that saying, he saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave no answer. Then saith Pilate, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Thenceforth Pilate sought to release Jesus: but the Jews cried out, We found this fellow forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king. If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cesar. Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus saith, Thou sayest it. The chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, Answerest thou nothing? hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? Jesus answered him to never a word; so that Pilate marvelled: and he said to the people, I find no fault in this man. They were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people throughout Jewry, from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that Jesus belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was at Jerusalem at that time.

Herod was exceeding glad: for he had heard many things of Jesus; and had hoped to see some miracle done by him. He questioned with Jesus in many words; but Jesus answered him nothing. And Herod sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers of the people; and he said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in him touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod.

Now at that feast the governor must of necessity release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. Pilate therefore said, Will ye that I release unto you Barabbas? or Jesus which is called the Christ? They cried out all at once, Release Barabbas. Pilate saith, What shall I do then with Jesus? They cried out again, Let him be crucified. Pilate saith, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered the people, His blood be on us, and on our children. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, gave sentence that it should be as they required. He released him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison: but he delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to their will, to be crucified.