John 19:1-16 : Easy-to-Read Version
19 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and be whipped. 2The soldiers used some thorny branches to make a crown. They put this crown of thorns on Jesus' head. Then the soldiers put a purple robe around Jesus. 3The soldiers came to Jesus many times and said, "Hello, O king of the Jews!" They hit Jesus in the face. 4Again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look! I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing I can charge against him." 5Then Jesus came out. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is the man!" 6When the leading priests and the Jewish guards saw Jesus they yelled, "Kill him on a cross! Kill him on a cross!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and nail him to a cross yourselves. I find nothing I can charge against him." 7The Jews answered, "We have a law that says he must die, because he said that he is the Son of God." 8When Pilate heard this, he was more afraid. 9Pilate went back inside the palace. He asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. 10Pilate said, "You refuse to speak to me? Remember, I have the power to make you free. I also have the power to kill you on a cross." 11Jesus answered, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. So the man who gave me to you is guilty of a greater sin." 12After this, Pilate tried to let Jesus go free. But the Jews yelled, "Any person who makes himself a king is against Caesar.* So if you let this man (Jesus) go free, that means you are not Caesar's friend." 13Pilate heard what the Jews said. So he brought Jesus out to the place called "The Stone Pavement." (In the Jewish language* the name is "Gabbatha.") Pilate sat down on the judge's seat there. 14It was now almost noon on Preparation day* of Passover* week. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is your king!" 15The Jews yelled, "Take him away! Take him away! Kill him on a cross!" Pilate asked the Jews, "Do you want me to kill your king on a cross?" The leading priests answered, "The only king we have is Caesar*!" 16So Pilate gave Jesus to them to be killed on a cross.
Caesar The name given to the emperor (ruler) of Rome. Jewish language Aramaic, a language like Hebrew that was spoken by the Jews in the first century. Preparation day Friday, the day before the Sabbath day. Passover An important Jewish holy day. The Jews ate a special meal on this day every year to remember that God freed them from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses.