¹⁷ When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

¹⁵ If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.

²¹ Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word.

⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

¹⁰ For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

¹² Pilate again asked them, "What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

¹⁵ 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!"

¹⁶ Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus{"Jesus" is a Greek variant of the Jewish name "Yehoshua," which means "Yah saves." "Jesus" is also the masculine form of "Yeshu'ah," which means "Salvation."}, who is called Christ.

²¹ But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

²² Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"