Matthew 27:11-18

As Jesus stood in front of the Roman governor, Pilate asked him, “So, you are the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You have just spoken it.” Then he was accused by the chief priests and religious leaders, but he remained silent. Pilate said, “Don’t you hear these allegations?” But Jesus offered no defense to any of the charges, much to the great astonishment of Pilate. Now, every year at Passover it was the custom of the governor to pardon a prisoner and release him to the people—anyone they wanted. And at that time, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Jesus Barabbas. So as the crowds of people assembled outside of Pilate’s residence, he went out and offered them a choice. He asked them, “Who would you want me to release to you today, Jesus who is called Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Anointed One?” (Now, Pilate was fully aware that the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because of their bitter jealousy.)