Readings for Lent and Easter

¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked^(A) him, dressed him in bright clothing,^(B) and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends.^[a](C) Previously, they had been enemies.

Jesus or Barabbas

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,^{(D) 14} and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people.^(E) But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds^(F) to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will have him whipped^[b](G) and then release him.”^[c]

¹⁸ Then^(H) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!^(I) Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus,^(J) Pilate addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?^(K) I have found in him no grounds^(L) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.”

²³ But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices^[d] won out. ²⁴ So^(M) Pilate decided to grant their demand^{(N) 25} and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.^(O)