15. Herod didn't find him guilty either and sent him back. This man doesn't deserve to be put to death!
16-17. I will just have him beaten with a whip and set free.”
18. But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill Jesus! Give us Barabbas!”
19. Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a riot in the city and had murdered someone.
20. Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds.
21. But they kept shouting, “Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”
22. Pilate spoke to them a third time, “But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free.”
23. The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death.
24. Finally, Pilate gave in.
25. He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.
26. As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27. A large crowd was following Jesus, and in the crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for him.
28. Jesus turned to the women and said:Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children.