Jesus or Barabbas

At(A) the festival(B) Pilate(C) used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder(D) during the rebellion.(E) The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the king(F) of the Jews(G) for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy(H) that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”

14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

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Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(A) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(B) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(C) and handed him over to be crucified.

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39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”(A)

Jesus’s Love for Jerusalem

41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept(B) for it, 42 saying, “If you knew(C) this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden(D) from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you(E) when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.(F) 44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground,(G) and they will not leave one stone on another(H) in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”(I)

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39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”(A)

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”(B)

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it(C) 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.(D) 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.(E) They will not leave one stone on another,(F) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming(G) to you.”

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47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin(A) and were saying, “What are we going to do since this man is doing many signs? 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans(B) will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

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47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees(A) called a meeting(B) of the Sanhedrin.(C)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.(D) 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

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36 While you have the light,(A) believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.(B)

Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled

37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill(C) the word of Isaiah(D) the prophet, who said:[a]

Lord, who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm(E) of the Lord been revealed?[b](F)

39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:

40 He has blinded(G) their eyes
and hardened their hearts,(H)
so that they would not see with their eyes
or understand with their hearts,
and turn,(I)
and I would heal them.[c](J)

41 Isaiah said these things because[d] he saw his glory(K) and spoke about him.

42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers,(L) but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise(M) more than praise from God.(N)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:38 Lit which he said
  2. 12:38 Is 53:1
  3. 12:40 Is 6:10
  4. 12:41 Other mss read when

36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”(A) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(B)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(C) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[a](D)

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[b](E)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(F) and spoke about him.(G)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(H) But because of the Pharisees(I) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(J) 43 for they loved human praise(K) more than praise from God.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  2. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10

15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

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15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

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