66When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law. Then they led Jesus away to their council 67and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” He answered them, “You say that I am.” 71Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
1Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5But they persisted in saying, “He incites the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!”
6Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that he was from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. 9So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him. 11Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, dressing him in elegant clothes, Herod sent him back to Pilate. 12That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for prior to this they had been enemies.
13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. 15Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. 16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
18But they all shouted out together, “Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!” 19(This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him.” 23But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.