Thematic Bible: Demagogism


Thematic Bible




So when the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which man do you want me to release for you Barabbas, or Jesus who is called "the Messiah'?" He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy. While he was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message that said, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him." read more.
But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. So the governor asked them, "Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they replied. Pilate asked them, "Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" He asked, "What has he done wrong?" But they kept shouting louder and louder, "Let him be crucified!" Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Attend to that yourselves." All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and our children!" Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

Then Pilate called the high priests, the other leaders, and the people together and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him. Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death. read more.
So I will punish him and let him go." Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival. But they all shouted out together, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas for us!" (This man had been put in prison for murder and for a revolt that had taken place in the city.) But Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, so he appealed to them again, but they continued to shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go." But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. Then Pilate pronounced his sentence that their demand should be carried out.

Pilate asked him, "What is "truth'?" and then he went out to the Jewish leaders again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?" At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

When the high priests and the officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate told them, "You take him and crucify him. I find no basis for a charge against him." The Jewish leaders answered Pilate, "We have a law, and according to that Law he must die because he made himself out to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he became even more afraid. read more.
Returning to his headquarters, he asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to speak to me? You realize, don't you, that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You have no authority over me at all, except what was given to you from above. That's why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!" When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha.

Then he would get up early, stand near the passageway to the palace gate, and when anyone arrived to file a legal complaint for a hearing before the king, Absalom would call to him and ask, "You're from what city?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of Israel's tribes," Absalom would respond, "Look, your claims are valid and defensible, but nobody will listen to you on behalf of the king. Who will appoint me to be a judge in the land? When anyone arrived to file a legal complaint or other cause, he could approach me for justice and I would settle it!" read more.
Furthermore, if a man approached him to bow down in front of him, he would put out his hand, grab him, and embrace him. By doing all of this to anyone who came to the king for a hearing, Absalom stole the loyalty of the men of Israel.

After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison. Verse ConceptsMen PleasersBad Decision Making ExamplesPopularityPleasing MenPopularity Sought

When he saw how this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter, too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Verse ConceptsFeast Of Unleavened BreadPublic Opinion

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