While [Pilate] was sitting on the
judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just
Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
Then Pilate, when he had called
together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to
me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your
presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which
you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod,
for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done
by Him. I will therefore chastise Him
and release Him”
Now at the feast the governor was
accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner
called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to
them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called
Christ?” For he knew that they had
handed Him over because of envy.
But the chief priests and elders
persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which
of the two do you want me to release to you?” And they all cried out at once,
saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”—who had been thrown
into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
Pilate said to them, “What then
shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be
crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why, what
evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more,
saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged
Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of
thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And
they struck Him with their hands.
Pilate then went out again, and
said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I
find no fault in Him.”
Then Jesus came out, wearing the
crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”
Therefore, when the chief priests
and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “You take Him
and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”
The Jews answered him, “We have a
law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son
of God.”
Therefore, when Pilate heard that
saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to
Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to
Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify
You, and power to release You?”
Jesus answered, “You could have no
power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the
one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
From then on Pilate sought to
release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are
not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
When Pilate therefore heard that
saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that
is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the
Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your
King!”
But they cried out, “Away with
Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We
have no king but Caesar!”
When Pilate saw that he could not
prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed
his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this
just Person. You see to it.”
And all the people answered and
said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Then he delivered Him to them to
be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.
[1]
Note:
Much of the Harmony readings will be pieced together like a puzzle putting the
four Gospels together into one narrative. I am copying the order or format from
A Simplified Harmony of the Gospels,
George W. Wright, Holman Bible Publishers, 2001. However, I am using the New
King James rather than the HCSB. This order is from the research of Wright and
is open to discussion. Of course, you can also read the passages side by side
separately if you prefer.
No comments:
Post a Comment