After questioning Jesus, Pilate could find no grounds to charge Him with any crime and was about to let Him go when he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, which was King Herod?s jurisdiction, so Pilate sent Him before King Herod. Herod had of course heard of Jesus and hoped to get Him to perform a miracle while he questioned Him, but Jesus kept silent. Herod could not find any grounds to charge Jesus with either, so he finally sent Him back to Pilate.

Pilate gathered all of the Priests and people together and again stated that there was no cause for a death penalty against Jesus and that he was going to release Him. But the people were allowed to have one prisoner released for Passover, and everyone began to shout for the release of Barabbas, who was in prison for murder. Pilate asked what should be done with Jesus and the people screamed, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate was obviously distraught over sentencing an innocent man to death, and because his wife had informed him that she had suffered in a dream over Jesus, Pilate washed his hands and chose to have nothing to do with the decision. So the Jewish leaders said, "let his blood be on us and our children", and Pilate released Barabbas and sent Jesus off to be executed.

Many aspects of the Messiah's judgement were foretold long before they occurred:

Prophecy - "for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues." (Psalms 109:2)

Fulfillment - "So Pilate came out to them and asked, 'What charges are you bringing against this man?'

'If he were not a criminal,' they replied, 'we would not have handed him over to you.'" (John 18:29-30)

Prophecy - "By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken." (Isaiah 53:8)

Fulfillment - "and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

'You are not one of his disciples, are you?' the girl at the door asked Peter.

He replied, 'I am not.'

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

'I have spoken openly to the world,' Jesus replied. 'I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.'

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. 'Is this the way you answer the high priest?' he demanded." (John 18:13-20)

Prophecy - "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)

Fulfillment - "When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, 'Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?' But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor." (Matthew 27:12-14)

Prophecy - "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." (Isaiah 53:9)

Fulfillment -

• "The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.'" (Mark 15:3)
• "'What is truth?' Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, 'I find no basis for a charge against him.'" (John 18:38)