Mark 15

¹Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

²So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

³And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.

⁴Then Pilate questioned Him again, “Have You no answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!”

⁵But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

⁶Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.

⁷And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

⁸So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.

⁹“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.

¹⁰For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.

¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

¹²So Pilate asked them again, “What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁴“Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”