Governor Pilate Questions Jesus

23 ¹Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus to Pilate.* ²They began to accuse Jesus. They told Pilate, "We caught this man trying to change the thinking of our people. He says we should not pay taxes to Caesar.* He calls himself the Christ,* a king." ³Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Yes, that is right." ⁴Pilate said to the leading priests and the people, "I find nothing wrong with this man." ⁵They said again and again, "But Jesus is making trouble with the people! He teaches all around Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here!"

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

⁶Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee. ⁷Pilate learned that Jesus was under Herod's* authority. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate sent Jesus to him. ⁸When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. Herod had heard all about Jesus. So he had wanted to meet Jesus for a long time. Herod wanted to see a miracle.* So he hoped that Jesus would do a miracle. ⁹Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus said nothing. ¹⁰The leading priests and teachers of the law were standing there. They were shouting things against Jesus. ¹¹Then Herod and his soldiers laughed at Jesus. They made fun of Jesus by dressing him in clothes like kings wear. Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. ¹²In the past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies. But on that day Herod and Pilate became friends.

Jesus Must Die

¹³Pilate called all the people together with the leading priests and the [Jewish] leaders. ¹⁴Pilate said to them, "You brought this man (Jesus) to me. You said that he was trying to change the people. But I judged him before you all. I found no wrong that he had done. Jesus is not guilty of the things you say. ¹⁵Also, Herod* found nothing wrong with him; Herod sent Jesus back to us. Look, Jesus has done nothing wrong. He should not be killed. ¹⁶So, after I punish him a little, I will let him go free." ¹⁷* ¹⁸But all the people shouted, "Kill him! Let Barabbas go free!" ¹⁹(Barabbas was a man that was in jail because he started a riot in the city. He had also killed some people.) ²⁰Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free. So again Pilate told them that he would let Jesus go. ²¹But they shouted again, "Kill him! Kill him on a cross!" ²²A third time Pilate said to the people, "Why? What wrong has he done? He is not guilty. I can find no reason to kill him. So I will let him go free after I punish him a little." ²³But the people continued to shout. They demanded that Jesus be killed on the cross. Their shouting became so loud that ²⁴Pilate decided to give them what they wanted. ²⁵The people wanted Barabbas to go free. Barabbas was in jail for starting a riot and for killing people. Pilate let Barabbas go free. And Pilate gave Jesus to the people to be killed. This is what the people wanted.

Pilate Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea from 26 A.D. to 36 A.D. Caesar The name given to the emperor (ruler) of Rome. Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Herod Herod Antipas, tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great. miracle(s) Amazing works done by God's power. Verse 17 A few Greek copies of Luke add verse 17: "Every year at the Passover festival, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people."