When Jesus was appearing before Pilate, Pilate's wife “sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much today in a dream because of him” (v. 19). This dream was sovereign of God. Pilate's wife did not want him to get involved with this unrighteous matter. According to his conscience, Pilate also knew that Jesus was righteous and that the Jews were unrighteous in arresting Him. He also knew that he should have released this righteous man, but he was afraid to do this. Accustomed at the time of the feast to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wanted, Pilate asked, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you? And they said, Barabbas” (v. 21). Barabbas was a most sinful criminal. No doubt, Pilate intended to release Jesus and to keep Barabbas. But the people wanted him to release Barabbas and to crucify Jesus. Pilate seemed to be saying, “You ask me to release the most sinful criminal and to crucify the innocent one.” Verse 23 says, “But he said, Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified!” Pilate was subdued by the voices of the crowd. In order to appease his conscience, he “took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; you see to it” (v. 24). Then the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (v. 25). Thus, Pilate released Barabbas, but scourged Jesus and delivered Him up that He might be crucified. What a portrait this is of unrighteousness!