Summary: Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to Annas and then to the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. Then he was taken to Pilate.

Found in Matthew 27:2,11-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 23:1-7 and John 18:28-38

Matthew 27:2 (John 18:28) Arrested

When they had bound Jesus, the whole multitude led him away (from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment) and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor and it was early.

John 18:28-29

The Jews wouldn't go into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; so Pilate then went out to them.

Pilate: What accusation do you bring against this man?

Luke 23:2

And they began to accuse Jesus.

The Jews: We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding others to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

John 18:30

The Jews: If he were not a criminal, we would not have delivered him up to you.

Matthew 27:11-14

Jesus stood before Pilate the governor.

Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?

Jesus: You say.

And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, Jesus answered nothing.

Pilate: Don’t you hear how many things they witness against you?

Jesus answered to him never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

John 18:31-38

Pilate: Take him, and judge him according to your law.

The Jews: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

(They wanted Jesus killed, but they didn’t have the authority to sentence him to death. The Jews were under Roman authority. The Roman governor had to hear any case worthy of death and sentence the criminal to crucifixion.)

That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he would die.

(Note: If the Jews had put Jesus to death, he would have been stoned. But since the Romans executed him, he was crucified.)

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called Jesus.

Pilate: Are you the King of the Jews?

Jesus: Do you say this thing of yourself, or did others tell it to you about me?

Pilate: Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?

Jesus: My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but my kingdom is not now.

Pilate: Are you a king then?

Jesus: You say that I am a king. I was born to this end, and I came into the world for this cause, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

Pilate: What is truth?

And when he had said this, Pilate went out again to the Jews.

Pilate: I find no fault in this man at all.

Luke 23:5-12

The Jews (all the more fierce): He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether Jesus was a Galilaean.

And as soon as he knew that Jesus belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Jesus to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem at that time.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he had desired to see him for a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.

Then Herod questioned Jesus with many words; but Jesus answered him nothing.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Jesus.

And Herod with his men of war treated Jesus with contempt and mocked him and dressed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

And that same day Pilate and Herod were became friends: where before there was enmity between themselves.

Luke 23:13-16

Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people.

Pilate: You have brought this man to me, as one who perverts the people: and I have examined him before you, and I have found no fault in this man touching those things of which you accuse him. No, nor has Herod: for I sent you to him; and he has done nothing worthy of death. Therefore, I will chastise him and release him.

Matthew 27:15-25

Now at the Passover feast the governor would release a prisoner to the people, whomever they wanted released.

The Romans had a notable prisoner, called Barabbas, at that time.

Pilate (when the Jews were gathered together): Whom will you have me release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Pilate knew that the Jews had delivered him because of envy.

When Pilate was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him.

The message from Pilate’s wife: Have nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas to be released and Jesus be destroyed.

Pilate: Which of the two will you have me release to you?

The Jews: Barabbas!

Pilate (wanting to release Jesus – Luke 23:20): What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ (whom you call the King of the Jews – Mark 15:12)?

The Jews: Let him be crucified!

Pilate (the third time – Luke 23:22): Why? What evil has he done?

The Jews [the more (exceedingly – Mark 15:14)]: Let him be crucified!

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but that rather a riot was in the making, he took water, and washed his hands before the crowd.

Pilate: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: you see to it.

All the Jews: His blood will be on us and on our children.

John 19:1

Then Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him.

Matthew 27:27-30

Then Pilate’s soldiers took Jesus into the common hall (called Praetorium – Mark 15:16), and gathered together the whole band of soldiers.

They stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him.

They platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a reed in his right hand.

Then they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him.

The soldiers: Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

John 19:4-11

Pilate went out to the Jews again.

Pilate: See, I bring him to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him.

Then Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.

Pilate: See the man!

The chief priests and officers (when they saw him): Crucify him, crucify him.

Pilate: Take him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The Jews: We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the judgment hall.

Pilate (to Jesus): From where have you come?

But Jesus gave him no answer.

Pilate: Do you not speak to me? Don’t you know that I have power to crucify you and the power to release you?

Jesus: You could have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above: therefore he that delivered me to you has the greater si n.

Matthew 27:31

The soldiers took the robe off of him and put his own garments on him.

John 19:12-16

From this point, Pilate sought to release Jesus.

The Jews: If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.

When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation day of the passover, and about the sixth hour.

Pilate (to the Jews): See your King!

The Jews: Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!

Pilate: Shall I crucify your King?

The chief priests: We have no king but Caesar.

Then Pilate delivered Jesus to the Jews to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away (to crucify him – Matthew 27:31)!