28Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was
early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so
as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29So
Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against
this man?” 30They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would
not have handed him over to you.” 31Pilate said to them, “Take him
yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We
are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32(This was to fulfill what
Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) 33Then
Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
“Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on
your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a
Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over
to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not
from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers
would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as
it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a
king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born,
and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who
belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate asked him, “What is
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truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told
them, “I find no case against him. 39But you have a custom that I release
someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the
King of the Jews?” 40They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but
Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
Reader: These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God,
All: and that through believing, we may have life in his name.