The Life of Jesus

At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.

So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

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

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.

They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull,

they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.

When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.

And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”