Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner whom the people chose. ¹⁶ And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner [guilty of insurrection and murder], called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had assembled [for this purpose], Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While he was seated on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous and innocent Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹ The governor said to them, “Which of the two do you wish me to set free for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”

²² Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all replied, “Let Him be crucified!”

²³ And he said, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they continued shouting all the louder, “Let Him be crucified!”

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

²⁵ And all the people answered, “Let [the responsibility for] His blood be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ So he set Barabbas free for them; but after having Jesus severely whipped (scourged), he handed Him over to be crucified.

⁶ Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to set free for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he was aware that the chief priests had turned Jesus over to him because of envy and resentment. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead.

¹² Again Pilate answered, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ They screamed back, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁴ But Pilate asked them, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they screamed all the more, “Crucify Him!”

¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified.

¹³ Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him. ¹⁵ No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and indeed, He has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.” ¹⁷ [Now he was obligated to release to them one prisoner at the Feast.]

¹⁸ But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus, ²¹ but they kept shouting out, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what wrong has He done? I have found no guilt [no crime, no offense] in Him demanding death; therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.”

²³ But they were insistent and unrelenting, demanding with loud voices that Jesus be crucified. And their voices began to prevail and accomplish their purpose. ²⁴ Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. ²⁵ And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed over Jesus to their will.