Section 9
mocking, threw around Him splendid clothing and sent Him back to Pilate" (Luke 23:11).
Luke 23:13 and 14 say, "And Pilate, calling to gether the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said to them, You brought this man to me as one who turns away the people, and be hold, I have examined him before you and found not one fault in this man regarding the accusa tions you bring against him." Here "turns away" implies turning away the people from their civil and religious allegiance. Pilate went on to tell the people that neither did Herod find anything in the Lord Jesus worthy of death. Then Pilate declared, "I will therefore discipline him and release him" (v. 16). When Pilate said this, "they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!" (v. 18).
Wanting to release the Lord Jesus, Pilate again called the people (v. 20). "But they were shout ing, saying, Crucify, crucify him! But he said to them a third time, Why, what evil has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him; I will therefore discipline him and release him. But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that He be crucified; and their voices prevailed" (vv. 21-23). The Jewish death penalty was by stoning (Lev. 20:2, 27; 24:14; Deut. 13:10; 17:5).