John 19:1-16 - Pilate Attempts To Release Jesus

¹ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. ² And the soldiers having twined a crown of thorns, put upon his head, and they put round him a purple robe, ³ And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they gave him blows with a rod.

⁴ Then again went out Pilate without, and says to them, See, I lead him to you without, that ye might know that in him I find no fault.

⁵ Then went forth Jesus without, bearing a crown of thorns, and a purple garment. And he says to them, Behold the man!

⁶ When therefore the chief priests and attendants saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify, crucify. Pilate says to them, Take ye him, and crucify; for I find no fault in him.

⁷ The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, for he made himself the Son of God.

⁸ When Pilate heard this word, he was more afraid: ⁹ And went into the pretorinm again, and says to Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Then says Pilate to him, Speakest thou not to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to loose thee.

¹¹ Jesus answered, Thou bast no power against me, if it were not given thee from above: therefore he delivering me to thee has greater sin.

¹² From this Pilate sought to loose him: and the Jews cried out, saying, If thou loose this, thou art not Caesar's friend: every one making himself a king speaks against Caesar.

¹³ Then Pilate having heard, brought Jesus without, and sat upon the judgment seat, in a place called Paved with ornamental stones; in Hebraic, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ And it was the preparation of the pascha, and about the sixth hour: and he says to the Jews, Behold your King!

¹⁵ And they cried, Take away, take away, crucify him. Pilate says to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

¹⁶ Then, therefore, delivered he him to them, that he might be crucified.