Mark 15:1-20 ▼

1 At earliest dawn, after the High Priests had held a consultation with the Elders and Scribes, they and the entire Sanhedrin bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.

2 So Pilate questioned Him. "Are *you* the King of the Jews?" he asked. "I am," replied Jesus.

3 Then, as the High Priests went on heaping accusations on Him,

4 Pilate again and again asked Him, "Do you make no reply? Listen to the many charges they are bringing against you."

5 But Jesus made no further answer: so that Pilate wondered.

6 Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment;

7 and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection had committed murder.

8 So the people came crowding up, asking Pilate to grant them the usual favour.

9 "Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.

10 For he could see that it was out of sheer spite that the High Priests had handed Him over.

11 But the High Priests urged on the crowd to obtain Barabbas's release in preference;

12 and when Pilate again asked them, "What then shall I do to the man you call King of the Jews?"

13 they once more shouted out, "Crucify Him!"

14 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they vehemently shouted, "Crucify Him!"

15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them, and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the court of the Palace (the Praetorium)

17 they arrayed Him in crimson, placed on His head a wreath of thorny twigs which they had twisted,

18 and went on to salute Him with shouts of "Long live the King of the Jews."

19 Then they began to beat Him on the head with a cane, to spit on Him, and to do Him homage on bended knees.

20 At last, having finished their sport, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.