Bible Lesson 29

El Juicio de Cristo – the Trial of Christ

What comes next is a scene that is very familiar – possibly too familiar for us to feel it’s true impact. So full of irony and tragedy, brutality and mercy, this scene is one of the most horrific and incredible in human history.

May we respond in humble repentance and loving faith as we reflect on what Jesus voluntarily went through for us.

How to Use This Page:

1. Listen to the audio as you read along with the Spanish on the left.

2. Open the English translation, and read the two side-by-side, making sure you understand the Spanish.

3. Close the English, and listen to the audio again, reading along in Spanish.

4. Close the Spanish, and listen once more. Maybe shut your eyes, and just try to catch as much as you can.


Ahora bien, durante la fiesta el gobernador acostumbraba soltar un preso que la gente escogiera. Tenían un preso famoso llamado Barrabás. Así que cuando se reunió la multitud, Pilato, que sabía que le habían entregado a Jesús por envidia, les preguntó: —¿A quién quieren que les suelte: a Barrabás o a Jesús, al que llaman Cristo?

Mientras Pilato estaba sentado en el tribunal, su esposa le envió el siguiente recado: «No te metas con ese justo, pues por causa de él, hoy he sufrido mucho en un sueño.»

Pero los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos persuadieron a la multitud a que le pidiera a Pilato soltar a Barrabás y ejecutar a Jesús.

—¿A cuál de los dos quieren que les suelte? —preguntó el gobernador.

—A Barrabás.

—¿Y qué voy a hacer con Jesús, al que llaman Cristo?

—¡Crucifícalo! —respondieron todos.

—¿Por qué? ¿Qué crimen ha cometido?

Pero ellos gritaban aún más fuerte: —¡Crucifícalo!

Cuando Pilato vio que no conseguía nada, sino que más bien se estaba formando un tumulto, pidió agua y se lavó las manos delante de la gente.

—Soy inocente de la sangre de este hombre —dijo—. ¡Allá ustedes!

—¡Que su sangre caiga sobre nosotros y sobre nuestros hijos! —contestó todo el pueblo.

Entonces les soltó a Barrabás; pero a Jesús lo mandó azotar, y lo entregó para que lo crucificaran.

Los soldados del gobernador llevaron a Jesús al palacio y reunieron a toda la tropa alrededor de él. Le quitaron la ropa y le pusieron un manto de color escarlata. Luego trenzaron una corona de espinas y se la colocaron en la cabeza, y en la mano derecha le pusieron una caña. Arrodillándose delante de él, se burlaban diciendo: —¡Salve, rey de los judíos!

Y le escupían, y con la caña le golpeaban la cabeza.

Now during the feast the governor was in the habit of releasing a prisoner that the people chose. They had a famous prisoner named Barrabas. So when the multitude gathered, Pilate, who knew that they had handed him over because of envy, asked them, “Whom do you want me to release: Barrabas or Jesus, whom they call Christ?”

While Pilate was seated in the tribunal, his wife sent him the following message: “Don’t get yourself involved with this righteous man, since because of him, today I have suffered greatly in a dream.”

But the chiefs of the priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask Pilate to release Barrabas and execute Jesus.

“Which of the two do you want me to release?” asked the governor.

“Barrabas.”

“And what will I do with Jesus, whom they call Christ?”

“Crucify him!” responded everyone.

“Why? What crime has he committed?”

But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather a riot was forming, he requested water and washed his hands in front of the people.

“I am innocent of the blood of this man,” he said, “It’s on you!”

“May his blood fall upon us and upon our children!” answered all the people.

Then they released Barrabas; but Jesus he commanded to be flogged, and he handed him over to be crucified.

The governor´s soldiers brought Jesus to the palace and gathered all the troop around him. They took off his clothes and put on him a scarlet robe. Then they braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and in his right hand they put a cane. Kneeling before him, they mocked, saying, “Save, king of the Jews!”

And they spit on him, and with the cane they hit his head.

Ecce Homo, by Tintoretto - 1547

Ecce Homo, by Tintoretto – 1547

Passion of Christ, by Albrecht Altdorfer - c. 1509

Passion of Christ, by Albrecht Altdorfer – c. 1509

Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1880

Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1880