Pilate raised his voice again, wanting to let the Lord Jesus go. But they cried out even more loudly: crucify Him, crucify Him!

And he said unto them for the third time, What evil hath he done? I find nothing worthy of death in Him. Therefore, having punished Him, I will let Him go. But they continued to demand with a great cry that He be crucified.

And the cry of them and the chief priests prevailed: Pilate decided to be at their request; and he released to them Barabbas, who had been put in prison for rebellion and murder, whom they had asked.

224. The Passion of the Lord: Scourging

Mf. 27, 27–30;

Mk. 15, 16–19;

In. 19, 1–3.

Then Pilate took the Lord Jesus and commanded the soldiers to beat Him. The governor's soldiers, taking Him, led Him inside the courtyard of the praetorium and gathered the whole army against Him. And when they had undressed him, they put a scarlet robe upon him, and having plaited a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and gave him a reed in his right hand, and kneeling before him, they bowed down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. they smote him on the cheeks, and spat on him, and took a reed, and smote him on the head.

225. The Passions of the Lord: Behold, Man

In. 19, 4–12

After this, Pilate went out again and said to them, "Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him." Then the Lord Jesus came out wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate said to them, Behold, a man! But when the chief priests and ministers saw Him, they cried out, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"

Pilate said to them, "Take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have the law, and according to our law he must die, because he made himself the Son of God."

Pilate, hearing this word, was more afraid; And he went back into the praetorium, and said to the Lord Jesus, Where art thou from? But the Lord Jesus did not give him an answer. Pilate said to Him, "Do you not answer me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify you, and I have power to let you go? The Lord Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given to you from above; therefore greater sin is on him who delivered me to you.

From that time on, Pilate sought to let Him go. And the Jews cried out, "If thou wilt let Him go, thou art no friend of Caesar." Everyone who makes himself a king is an opponent of Caesar.