Jesus Before Pilate

    At daybreak all the chief priests and the elders of the people took action against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him and led away to be handed over to the procurator Pilate. Then Judas, who had handed him over, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, began to regret his action deeply. He took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders saying, "I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man!"
     "What is that to us? It is your affair!"
     So Judas flung the money into the temple and left. He went off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver, observing, "It is not right to deposit this in the temple treasury because it is blood money."
     After consultation, the used it to buy the potter's field as a cemetary for foreigners. That is why that field is called Blood Field.
     Pilate questioned Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
     "As you say," was Jesus' reply.
     "Surely you know how many charges they bring against you?"
     Jesus did not answer any of his questions to Pilate's surprise. Now, on the occasion of a festical the procurator was accustomed to release one prisoner that the crowd designated. They had at that time a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Since they were already assembled, Pilate said to them, "Which one do you wish me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus, the so-called Messiah?"
     He knew, of course, that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was still presiding on the bench, his wife sent him a message saying:
     "Do not interfere in the case of that holy man. I had a dream about him today which has greatly upset me."
     Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders convinced the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and have Jesus put to death. So when Pilate asked them, "Which one do you wish me to release for you?"
     "Barabbas," they answered.
     Then Pilate asked, "Then what am I to do with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?"
     "Crucify him!" they shouted.
     "Why? What crime has he commited?"
     The crowd only shouted louder, "Crucify him!"
     Pilate realized that no matter what he said they wouldn't change their mind and that a riot was breaking out. He called for water and washed his hands in front of the crowd declaring, "I am innocent of the blood of this just man. The responsibility is yours."
     At that, he released Barabbas to them.