16. Ngaleso sikhathi babe nesiboshwa esidumileyo esithiwa uBaraba.
17. Ngakho sebebuthene, uPilatu wathi kubo: “Nithanda ukuba nginikhululele bani, uBaraba nokuba uJesu othiwa uKristu, na?”
18. Ngokuba wayekwazi ukuthi bamnikele ngomhawu.
19. Esahlezi esihlalweni sokwahlulela, umkakhe wathumela kuye, wathi: “Ungabi nandaba kulowo muntu olungileyo; ngokuba ngihluphekile kakhulu namuhla ngaye ephusheni.”
20. Kepha abapristi abakhulu namalunga bancenga izixuku ukuba zicele uBaraba, zimbulale uJesu.
21. Wayesephendula umbusi, wathi kubo: “Nithanda ukuba nginikhululele muphi kulaba ababili na?”Bathi: “UBaraba.”
22. UPilatu wathi kubo: “Pho-ke, ngimenze njani uJesu othiwa uKristu na?”Bonke bathi: “Makabethelwe esiphambanweni.”
23. Wayesethi: “Ngokuba wenze bubi buni na?”Kepha bamemeza kakhulu, bathi: “Makabethelwe esiphambanweni.”
24. UPilatu esebona ukuthi akanakwenza lutho nokuthi isiphithiphithi sesanda kakhulu, wathatha amanzi, wahlamba izandla phambi kwesixuku, wathi: “Anginacala egazini lalo muntu; ziboneleni nina.”
25. Abantu bonke base bephendula bethi: “Igazi lakhe malibe phezu kwethu naphezu kwabantwana bethu.”