6. The chief priests picked up the coins. They said, "It's against the law to put this money into the temple fund. It is blood money. It has paid for a man's death."
7. So they decided to use the money to buy a potter's field. People from other countries would be buried there.
8. That is why it has been called The Field of Blood to this very day.
9. Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet came true. He had said, "They took the 30 silver coins. That price was set for him by the people of Israel.
10. They used the coins to buy a potter's field, just as the Lord commanded me." (Zechariah 11:12,13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9)
11. Jesus was standing in front of the governor. The governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes. It is just as you say," Jesus replied.
12. But when the chief priests and the elders brought charges against him, he did not answer.
13. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the charges they are bringing against you?"
14. But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. The governor was really amazed.
15. It was the governor's practice at the Passover Feast to let one prisoner go free. The people could choose the one they wanted.
16. At that time they had a well-known prisoner named Barabbas.
17. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to set free? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called Christ?"
18. Pilate knew that the leaders were jealous. He knew this was why they had handed Jesus over to him.
19. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that man. He is not guilty. I have suffered a great deal in a dream today because of him."
20. But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus put to death.
21. "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.