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.”
26. Wayesebakhululela uBaraba, kepha wamshaya uJesu, wamnikela ukuba abethelwe esiphambanweni.
27. Khona amabutho ombusi ayesemthatha uJesu, amngenisa enqabeni, aqoqela kuye ibutho lonke.