Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible






















Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "Yes." And while the high priests and elders were making their charges against him, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear what evidence they are bringing against you?" read more.
And he made him no reply to even a single accusation, so that the governor was greatly surprised. Now at festival time the governor was accustomed to release for the people any prisoner whom they chose, and at this time there was a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. So when they gathered to ask this, Pilate said to them, "Which one do you want me to release for you, Barabbas, or Jesus, the so-called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed him over to him out of envy. Now while he was on the bench his wife sent to him to say, "Do not have anything to do with that upright man, for I have just had a painful experience in a dream about him." But the high priests and the elders prevailed on the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus put to death. And the governor answered, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" They said, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "Then what am I to do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" They all said, "Have him crucified!" He said, "Why, what has he done that is wrong?" But they shouted all the louder, "Have him crucified!" When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing but that a riot was beginning instead, he took some water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying, "I am not responsible for this man's death; you must see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them, and he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

After reading the letter, he asked Paul what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will hear your case as soon as your accusers arrive." And he gave orders that he should be kept in Herod's palace.

If I am guilty and have done anything that deserves death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is no truth in the charges that these men make against me, no one can give me up to them; I appeal to the emperor." Then Festus after conferring with the council answered, "You have appealed to the emperor, and to the emperor you shall go!"