John 19:1-16 - Pilate Attempts To Release Jesus
1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, 3 and threw a purple robe about Him, and said, "Hail king of the Jews," and struck Him with their hands.
4 Pilate therefore came out again, and saith unto them, Behold I bring Him out to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.
5 So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the man."
6 When the chief priests therefore and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." Pilate saith unto 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 made himself the Son of God.
8 Now when Pilate heard this he was the more afraid; 9 and went into the palace again, and saith to Jesus, From whence art thou? but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate therefore saith unto Him, Dost thou not speak to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above; wherefore he, that delivered me up to thee, hath the greater sin.
12 Upon this Pilate sought to release Him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Cesar's friend; for whosoever maketh himself a king, opposeth Cesar.
13 Therefore when Pilate heard this he brought Jesus forth, and sat down on the tribunal, in a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 (And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour.) And he saith to the Jews, Behold your king. But they cried out,
15 Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar.
16 Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified.