21. Pilate asked the crowd again, “Which of these two men do you want me to set free?”“Barabbas!” they replied.
22. Pilate asked them, “What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”They all yelled, “Nail him to a cross!”
23. Pilate answered, “But what crime has he done?”“Nail him to a cross!” they yelled even louder.
24. Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them and said, “I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!”
25. Everyone answered, “We and our own families will take the blame for his death!”
26. Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
27. The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops.