Part 23

015:001 At earliest dawn, after the High Priests had held a consultation with the Elders and Scribes, they and the entire Sanhedrin bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.

015:002 So Pilate questioned Him. "Are *you* the King of the Jews?" he asked. "I am," replied Jesus.

015:003 Then, as the High Priests went on heaping accusations on Him,

015:004 Pilate again and again asked Him, "Do you make no reply? Listen to the many charges they are bringing against you."

015:005 But Jesus made no further answer: so that Pilate wondered.

015:006 Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment;

015:007 and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection had committed murder.

015:008 So the people came crowding up, asking Pilate to grant them the usual favour.

015:009 "Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.

015:010 For he could see that it was out of sheer spite that the High Priests had handed Him over.

015:011 But the High Priests urged on the crowd to obtain Barabbas's release in preference;

015:012 and when Pilate again asked them, "What then shall I do to the man you call King of the Jews?"

015:013 they once more shouted out, "Crucify Him!"

015:014 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they vehemently shouted, "Crucify Him!"

015:015 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them, and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

015:016 Then the soldiers led Him away into the court of the Palace (the Praetorium), and calling together the whole battalion

015:017 they arrayed Him in crimson, placed on His head a wreath of thorny twigs which they had twisted,

015:018 and went on to salute Him with shouts of "Long live the King of the Jews."

015:019 Then they began to beat Him on the head with a cane, to spit on Him, and to do Him homage on bended knees.

015:020 At last, having finished their sport, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

015:021 One Simon, a Cyrenaean, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing along, coming from the country: him they compelled to carry His cross.

015:022 So they brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which, being translated, means 'Skull-ground.'

015:023 Here they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He refused it.

015:024 Then they crucified Him. This done, they divided His garments among them, drawing lots to decide what each should take.

015:025 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.

015:026 Over His head was the notice in writing of the charge against Him: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

015:027 And together with Jesus they crucified two robbers, one at His right hand and one at His left.

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