Mark 15:9

The Passion Translation

So he asked them, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

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Now, you do know that we have a custom that I release one prisoner every year at Passover—shall I release your king—the king of the Jews?”

The crowds gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment bench and asked him to release a prisoner to them, as was his custom.

(Pilate was fully aware that the religious leaders had handed Jesus over to him because of spite and envy.)