John 19:1-16 - Pilate Attempts To Release Jesus
1 Then Pilate order'd Jesus to be scourged. 2 and the soldiers having made a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and threw a purple robe about him. 3 hail king of the Jews! said they, and struck him on the cheeks.
4 Pilate therefore went out again, and said to them, observe, I bring him out to you, to acquaint you that I find no fault in him.
5 so Jesus marched out wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. and Pilate said to them, here's the man.
6 as soon as the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, "crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said to them, take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
7 the Jews answered him, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he pretended to be the son of God.
8 Pilate upon hearing that, was still more apprehensive. 9 and went again into the Pretorium, and said to Jesus, who was your father? but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 then said Pilate to him, won't you give me an answer? don't you know that it is in my power to crucify you, or to release you?
11 Jesus answered, you could not have any power over me, except you deriv'd it from above: therefore they who delivered me into your hands are the most culpable.
12 upon this, Pilate propos'd to release him: but the Jews cried out, if you let this man go, you are not Cesar's friend: he that sets up for king, opposes Cesar.
13 Pilate therefore hearing them talk at this rate, order'd Jesus to be brought forth, and then sat down in a place of Mosaic work on his tribunal, in Syriac call'd Gabbatha. 14 it was then about the sixth hour of the day before the sabbath of the passover: and he said to the Jews, behold your king.
15 but they cried out, away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said to them, shall I crucify your king? the chief priests answered, we have no king but Cesar.
16 upon which he delivered him up to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took Jesus and led him away.