im in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And
the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.
11 And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him,
and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. 12
And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day:
for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and
the people, 14 and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as
one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him
before you, found no fault in this man touching those things
whereof ye accuse him: 15 no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back
unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by
him. 16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. 18 But
they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and
release unto us Barabbas--19 one who for a certain insurrection
made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. 20 And
Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus; 21 but
they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22 And he said unto
them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have
found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and
release him. 23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that
he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 And Pilate
gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. 25 And he
released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into
prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their
will.

The Jews had been deprived by their Roman conquerors of the right to
inflict capital punishment. When, therefore, their chief council had
decided that Jesus was worthy of death, the rulers brought him to Pilate,
the Roman governor, that he might confirm their sentence and execute the
cruel penalty of crucifixion. The trial before Pilate developed into a
disgraceful contest between the murderous and determined Jewish rulers and
the weak and vacillating Roman governor, who was at last compelled to act
contrary to his conscience and his desire and to submit his will to that
of the subjects whom he detested.

Luke gives only a bare outline of the story, which is sketched best by the
apostle John. Enough, however, is given to show the infamous basene