Pontius Pilate

1When morning came, the chief priests and the leaders of the people met. They planned together to have Jesus put to death.

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

NoteChief priests were the top leaders at the temple. Elders were older men who helped lead the people.

2They tied him up and led him away. They handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

NoteRome ruled this land then. Pilate was the Roman ruler here. Only he could order someone put to death. A governor was a ruler who was put in charge of a place.

11Jesus stood in front of the governor. Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so."

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Note"King of the Jews" was a dangerous name. Rome punished anyone who called himself a king. Jesus does not say yes or no. He says the words are Pilate's own.

12The chief priests and leaders said he had done many wrong things. Jesus did not answer them at all.

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear all the things they say against you?"

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14Jesus did not answer even one of their charges. This surprised the governor very much.

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

15At that feast the governor always set one prisoner free. The crowd chose which prisoner it would be.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

NoteThe feast was Passover. It was a big holiday. People remembered how God brought their families out of Egypt long ago.

16At that time they were holding a well-known prisoner named Barabbas.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

NoteBarabbas was well known for fighting against the Roman rulers. People saw him as dangerous.

17The crowd gathered. Pilate asked them, "Which one should I set free? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

NoteThe word Christ means God's chosen one.

18Pilate knew why they had handed Jesus over to him. They were jealous of him.

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19Pilate was sitting in the judge's seat. His wife sent him a message. It said, "Do not do anything to that good man. I had a bad dream about him today, and it upset me."

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

NoteThe judge's seat was a special chair out where everyone could see. A ruler sat there to decide cases.

20But the chief priests and leaders talked the crowd into it. The crowd should ask for Barabbas and have Jesus killed.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21The governor asked them, "Which of the two should I set free?" They said, "Barabbas."

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22Pilate said, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Nail him to a cross!"

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

NoteBeing nailed to a cross was how Romans killed people. They did it outside, where crowds could watch.

23The governor said, "Why? What wrong has he done?" But they shouted even louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

24Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, and a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, "I am not guilty of this good man's death. It is your doing."

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

NoteWashing his hands was a sign everyone understood. It meant, "This is not my fault."

25All the people answered, "Let the blame be on us and on our children."

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

NoteThey were saying they would take the blame themselves.

26So Pilate set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

NoteRoman soldiers whipped people before a cross. It hurt very much.

57When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea arrived. His name was Joseph. He was a follower of Jesus.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

NoteArimathea was a small town. Usually Romans left bodies on the cross. Asking for the body took courage.

58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered that the body be given to him.

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59Joseph took the body. He wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

NoteLinen is a cloth like a sheet. Wrapping a body in it was how people said goodbye then.

60He laid it in his own new tomb, which was cut into the rock. He rolled a big stone across the door. Then he went away.

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

NoteTombs were rooms cut into rock, like little caves. A big round stone rolled across the door to close it.

61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there. They sat across from the tomb.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

62The next day was the day after Preparation Day. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

NoteThe day of rest was called the Sabbath. No one worked on it, so people got ready the day before. Preparation Day was when people got ready for the day of rest. The Pharisees were leaders who were very careful about God's law.

63They said, "Sir, we remember what that man who fooled people said. While he was alive he said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Note"Rise again" means come back to life after dying.

64So give the order to guard the tomb until the third day. If not, his followers may come and steal the body. Then they will tell people he rose from the dead. That last lie would be worse than the first one."

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65Pilate said to them, "You have guards. Go and make the tomb as safe as you can."

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

NoteThe guards were soldiers whose job was to watch and protect a place.

66So they went and made the tomb safe. They sealed the stone and put guards there.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

NoteThey pressed soft clay or wax over the stone. If anyone moved it, the seal would break and show.

1Early in the morning the leading priests made a plan. They met with the elders, the teachers of the law, and the whole council. They tied Jesus up and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate.

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

NotePilate was the Roman ruler in charge of that land. The council was a group of Jewish leaders who judged people. They were not allowed to put anyone to death. Only the Roman ruler could do that.

2Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."

And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Rome ruled their land at that time. Calling someone a king sounded like trouble to the Romans. "You have said so" was a quiet way of saying yes.

3The leading priests said Jesus had done many wrong things.

And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

4Pilate asked him again, "Are you not going to answer? Listen to all they say you did."

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

5But Jesus still said nothing. That surprised Pilate.

But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

6At the feast each year, Pilate set one prisoner free. The people chose which one.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

NoteThe feast was Passover, a big holiday each spring. Crowds of people came to the city for it.

7A man named Barabbas was locked up. He was with men who had fought against the rulers. Those men had killed someone in that fighting.

And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

NoteRome ruled the land with soldiers. Some men fought back and tried to push them out.

8The crowd came to Pilate. They asked him to do what he always did.

And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?"

But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10He knew the leading priests had handed Jesus over because they were jealous of him.

For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11But the leading priests stirred up the crowd. The people asked for Barabbas to be set free instead.

But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12So Pilate asked again, "Then what should I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?"

And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13They shouted back, "Nail him to a cross!"

And they cried out again, Crucify him.

NoteA cross was two big pieces of wood. Roman soldiers nailed people to one to kill them. It was the worst punishment they had.

14Pilate said, "Why? What wrong has he done?" They shouted even louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15Pilate wanted to make the crowd happy. So he set Barabbas free. He had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

NoteA Roman whip had sharp bits tied into it. Being whipped like that hurt very badly.

42Evening came. It was Preparation Day, the day before the Sabbath, the day of rest.

And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

NoteFor these people a new day started at sunset. So all work had to be finished before dark on Friday.

43Joseph from Arimathea was an important member of the council. He was waiting for God's kingdom to come. He went bravely to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

NoteArimathea was the town Joseph came from. Asking for the body was brave. Jesus had just been killed as an enemy of Rome.

44Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He called the officer and asked if Jesus had been dead for a while.

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45The officer told him it was. So Pilate let Joseph have the body.

And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46Joseph bought a clean linen cloth. He took the body down and wrapped it in the cloth. He laid it in a tomb cut out of solid rock. Then he rolled a big stone over the doorway.

And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

NoteLinen is a smooth cloth. Dead bodies were wrapped in it. A tomb was a small room cut into a rock hill. A big round stone was rolled across the doorway to close it.

1Some people there told Jesus about men from Galilee. Pilate, the Roman ruler, had killed them while they were giving gifts to God.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

NoteGalilee was the part of the country where Jesus grew up. Pilate was sent by Rome, the empire that ruled the land. The gifts were animals or food brought to God at the temple. This kind of gift is called a sacrifice.

2Jesus answered them, "Do you think those men were worse than all other people from Galilee? Is that why this happened to them?"

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3"No, I tell you. But unless you turn back to God, you will all die too."

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

NoteThe old words say "except ye repent." To repent means to be sorry and change how you live.

4"Or think about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them. Were they worse than everyone else living in Jerusalem?"

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

NoteSiloam was a pool of water in Jerusalem. A tall stone tower stood near it. Everyone listening would have known about this accident.

5"No, I tell you. But unless you turn back to God, you will all die too."

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

1Then the whole group stood up. They took Jesus to Pilate.

And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

NotePilate was the Roman governor. He ruled this land for Rome.

2They began to blame him. They said, "This man stirs up trouble in our country. He tells people not to pay taxes to Caesar, our ruler. He says he is the Christ, a king."

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

NoteCaesar was the emperor of Rome, the ruler of many lands.

3Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."

And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Note"Christ" means the special king God promised to send his people. Jesus' answer, "You have said so," is a quiet way of saying yes.

4Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find nothing wrong with this man."

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

NoteThe chief priests were the top leaders at the temple, God's house.

5But they said it even harder. "He gets the people all stirred up. He teaches all over Judea. He started in Galilee and came here."

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

NoteJudea and Galilee are two parts of the same country. Galilee was up north, and Judea was down south.

6When Pilate heard the word Galilee, he asked if the man was from there.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7He learned that Jesus came from the part Herod ruled. So he sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem just then.

And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

NoteHerod was a ruler over Galilee. Rome let him rule that part.

8Herod was very glad to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He had heard many stories about him. He hoped to watch him do a miracle.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

NoteA miracle is something wonderful that only God can do.

9Herod asked him many questions. But Jesus did not answer him at all.

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10The chief priests and the scribes stood there. They kept blaming him in angry voices.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

NoteScribes were teachers who studied God's law and copied it out.

11Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus like he was nothing. They made fun of him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

NoteThe fine robe was a joke. Kings wore robes like that, so it made fun of him.

12That same day Pilate and Herod became friends. Before this they had been enemies.

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14He said to them, "You brought me this man. You said he was stirring up the people. I asked him questions in front of you. I did not find him guilty of what you say.

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15Herod did not find him guilty either. I sent you to him. This man has done nothing that he should die for.

No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16So I will have him whipped. Then I will let him go."

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

NoteRoman soldiers whipped prisoners with a whip. It hurt very much.

17(At the feast each year, Pilate had to set one prisoner free.)

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

NoteThe feast was Passover. Every year, crowds came to Jerusalem for it.

18But they all shouted together, "Take this man away! Set Barabbas free for us!"

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19(Barabbas was in prison for starting a fight against the rulers, and for killing someone.)

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

NoteBarabbas had tried to fight the Romans who ruled the land.

20Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he spoke to them again.

Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21But they shouted, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"

But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

NoteA cross was two wooden beams. The Romans killed people on crosses.

22He said to them a third time, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found no reason to put him to death. So I will have him whipped and let him go."

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23But they kept shouting louder and louder. They demanded that Jesus be nailed to a cross. Their loud shouting won.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24So Pilate decided to do what they asked.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25He set free the man they wanted. That man was in prison for fighting the rulers and for killing. And he handed Jesus over to them.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.