15. Every year at Passover time the governor would free one prisoner—whichever one the people wanted him to free.
16. At that time there was a man in prison who was known to be very bad. His name was Barabbas.
17. When a crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, “I will free one man for you. Which one do you want me to free: Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
18. Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous of him.
19. While Pilate was sitting there in the place for judging, his wife sent a message to him. It said, “Don’t do anything with that man. He is not guilty. Last night I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”
20. But the leading priests and older Jewish leaders told the people to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed.
21. Pilate said, “I have Barabbas and Jesus. Which one do you want me to set free for you?” The people answered, “Barabbas!”
22. Pilate asked, “So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Messiah?” All the people said, “Kill him on a cross!”
23. Pilate asked, “Why do you want me to kill him? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted louder, “Kill him on a cross!”
24. Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do to make the people change. In fact, it looked as if there would be a riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them all. He said, “I am not guilty of this man’s death. You are the ones who are doing it!”
25. The people answered, “We will take full responsibility for his death. You can blame us and even our children!”