Pontius Pilate

1When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

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

2And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

They tied him up and led him away. They handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of that land.

11And 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.

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

12And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

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

13Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

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

14And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

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

15Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

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

16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

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

17Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

The crowd gathered. Pilate asked them, "Which one should I set free? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" Christ means God's chosen one.

18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

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

19When 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.

Pilate 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."

20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

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

21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

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

22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

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

23And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

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

24When 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.

Pilate 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."

25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

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

26Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

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

57When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

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

58He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

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

59And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

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

60And 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.

He 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.

61And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

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

62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

The next day was the day after Preparation Day, when people got ready for the day of rest. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. The Pharisees were leaders who were very careful about God's law.

63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

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

64Command 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.

So 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."

65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

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

66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

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

1And 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.

Early 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, the Roman governor.

2And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

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

3And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

The leading priests said Jesus had done many wrong things.

4And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

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

5But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

But Jesus still said nothing. That surprised Pilate.

6Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

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

7And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

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

8And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

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

9But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

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

10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

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

11But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

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

12And 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?

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

13And they cried out again, Crucify him.

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

14Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

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

15And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Pilate 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.

42And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

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

43Joseph 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.

Joseph 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.

44And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. He called the officer and asked if it was true.

45And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

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

46And 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.

Joseph 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.

1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

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

2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

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

3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

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

4Or 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?

"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?"

5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

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

1And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

Then the whole group stood up. They took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.

2And 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.

They 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."

3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

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

4Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

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

5And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

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

6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

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

7And 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.

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

8And 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.

Herod 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.

9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

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

10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

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

11And 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.

Herod 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.

12And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

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

13And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

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

14Said 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:

He 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.

15No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

Herod did not find him guilty either. He sent him back to us. This man has done nothing that he should die for.

16I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

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

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

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

18And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

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

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

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

20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

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

21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

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

22And 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.

He 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."

23And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

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

24And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

So Pilate decided to do what they asked.

25And 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.

He 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.