John 19:1-16 - Pilate Attempts To Release Jesus
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and whipped him. 2 The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They dressed him in a purple garment. 3 They came to him, and said: Hail, King of the Jews! They struck him with their hands.
4 Pilate went out again, and said to them: Look, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him.
5 Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said: Look, the man!
6 When the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out: Impale him! Impale him! Pilate replied: Take him yourselves, and impale him for he has committed no crime!
7 The Jews answered him: We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
8 When Pilate heard this he was more afraid. 9 He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus: Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate said: Will you not speak to me? Do you know I have the power to release you and the power to impale you?
11 Jesus answered him: You would have no power against me except it was given you from above. Therefore he that delivered me to you has greater sin.
12 As a result of this Pilate sought to release him. The Jews cried out: If you release this man you are not Caesar's friend. Every one that makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.
13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment-seat. They were at a place called The Stone Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation of the Passover, about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews: Behold, your King!
15 They cried out: Away with him, away with him, impale him! Pilate asked: Should I impale your King? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.
16 Then he delivered him to them to be impaled.