"We must not do it during the festival," they said, "or the people will riot."

At every Passover Festival Pilate was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the people asked for.

When the crowd gathered and began to ask Pilate for the usual favor,

So I will have him whipped and let him go."

OMITTED TEXT

"And what is truth?" Pilate asked. Then Pilate went back outside to the people and said to them, "I cannot find any reason to condemn him.

But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?"

After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor. Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews so he left Paul in prison.

But Festus wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he asked Paul, "Would you be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried on these charges before me there?"