Jesus before Pilate and Herod

Early in the morning, the chief priests and elders brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the governor. They accused him of misleading the nation, opposing Caesar, and claiming to be a king. Pilate asked Jesus whether he was the King of the Jews, and Jesus answered in a few words.

The leaders kept bringing many charges, but Jesus gave very little answer, and Pilate was amazed. In John's account, Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not from this world and that he had come to speak the truth. Pilate said he could find no basis for a charge against him. When he heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod.

Herod was glad to see Jesus because he had wanted to see him for a long time and hoped to watch a miracle. He questioned Jesus with many words, but Jesus gave no answer. The chief priests and scribes stood there accusing him strongly. Then Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, dressed him in splendid clothing, and sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends.

Pilate gathered the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. He said that neither he nor Herod had found Jesus guilty of anything deserving death, and he wanted to release him. But at the feast there was a custom of freeing one prisoner. The chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask for Barabbas instead. Barabbas had been involved in revolt, and he had committed murder.

Pilate asked what should be done with Jesus, and the crowd kept shouting that he should be crucified. Matthew says Pilate's wife sent a warning because of a troubling dream. John says Pilate kept trying to release Jesus, but the leaders pressed harder. Pilate saw a disturbance beginning, washed his hands before the crowd, released Barabbas, and handed Jesus over after having him flogged.

Then the soldiers took Jesus into the governor's court. They put a robe on him, made a crown of thorns, and mocked him as king. They struck him, spat on him, and knelt before him in cruel pretend honour. After mocking him, they took off the robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to be crucified.