6. When Pilate heard that, he asked if the man was from Galilee.
7. When Pilate found out that he was, he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod ruled Galilee and was in Jerusalem at that time.
8. Herod was very pleased to see Jesus. For a long time he had wanted to see him. He had heard about Jesus and hoped to see him perform some kind of miracle.
9. Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus wouldn’t answer him.
10. Meanwhile, the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings stood there and shouted their accusations against Jesus.
11. Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and made fun of him. They put a colorful robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.
12. So Herod and Pilate became friends that day. They had been enemies before this.
13. Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people.
14. He told them, “You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I’ve questioned him in front of you and haven’t found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him.
15. Neither could Herod. So he sent this man back to us. This man hasn’t done anything to deserve the death penalty.
16. So I’m going to have him whipped and set free.”
18. The whole crowd then shouted, “Take him away! Free Barabbas for us.”
19. (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for his involvement in a riot that had taken place in the city and for murder.)
20. But because Pilate wanted to free Jesus, he spoke to the people again.