An English Passion According to Saint Matthew, Part One: X. Barabbas

Now at the festival the Governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd

Anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them

Whom do you want me to release for you? Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called the Messiah?

For he realized that it was out of jealousy that

they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him

Have nothing to do with that innocent man,

for I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded

the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed

The governor again said to them

Which of the two do you want me to release to you?

And they said

Barabbas

Pilate said to them

Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?

All of them said

Let him be crucified

Then he asked

Why? What evil has he done?

But they shouted all the more

Let him be crucified!

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing,

but rather that a riot was beginning he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying

I am innocent of this man's blood see to it yourselves.

So he released Barabbas for them and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified