Bible Verses of the Week

Jesus is Tried by Pilate

¹ As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. ² Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” ³ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. ⁶ Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. ⁷ Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. ⁸ So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. ⁹ Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. ¹² Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They shouted back, “Crucify him!” ¹⁴ Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. (NRSV, Mark 15:1–15)

Pontius Pilate was governor of the Roman province of Judea from 26 to 36 A.D. He was appointed by the emperor Tiberius and exercised complete control over his territory. The Jews of Judea were allowed to practice their religion, but their ruling council did not have the authority to execute a criminal. So, they brought Jesus to Pilate and falsely charged Him with treason for claiming to be a king in defiance of the emperor. They also incited the crowds of people in Pilate's courtyard to demand that Jesus be killed. The time had come for Jesus to fulfill His mission, and He did not try to defend Himself. Pilate was reluctant to get involved in a Jewish religious dispute, but he finally decided that having Jesus crucified was the expedient solution to the matter.