Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast, the governor was in the habit of releasing to the multitude one prisoner, whom they chose. ¹⁶ They then had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ Therefore, while they were together, Pilate said to them: Which do you wish me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? ¹⁸ For he knew that through envy they had delivered him up.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered much to-day in a dream, because of him.

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude to ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor answered and said to them: Which of the two do you wish me to release to you? They replied: Barabbas.

²² Pilate said to them: What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all said to him: Let him be crucified.

²³ But the governor said: Why, what evil has he done? But they cried vehemently, saying: Let him be crucified.

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he gained nothing, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; you will see to it.

²⁵ And all the people answered and said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. ²⁶ Then he released to them Barabbas; but after he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified.

⁶ Now it was his custom to release to them, at the feast, one prisoner, whomever they desired. ⁷ And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with his fellow-insurgents, who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁸ And the multitude cried out, and began to ask him to do as he had always done for them. ⁹ But Pilate answered them, saying: Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he knew that, through envy, the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests instigated the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

¹² And Pilate answered and said again to them: What, then, do you wish me to do with him whom you call the King of the Jews?

¹³ They again cried out: Crucify him.

¹⁴ But Pilate said to them: Why, what evil has he done? But they cried vehemently: Crucify him.

¹⁵ And Pilate, willing to gratify the multitude, released to them Barabbas; and delivered Jesus, after he had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹³ And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them: You have brought to me this man as one that turns the people away; and behold, I have examined him before you, and have found in this man no fault, with respect to the things of which you accuse him; ¹⁵ nor indeed did Herod; for I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. ¹⁶ I will, therefore, chastise him, and release him. ¹⁷ For it was necessary that he should release to them one at the feast.

¹⁸ And the whole multitude cried out, saying: Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas. ¹⁹ He, for a certain seditious movement that had been made in the city, and for murder, had been thrown into prison.

²⁰ Therefore Pilate, desiring to release Jesus, again called to them. ²¹ But they answered, saying: Crucify, crucify him.

²² He said to them the third time: Why, what evil has he done? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. I will, therefore, chastise him, and release him.

²³ But they were urgent with loud voices, demanding that he should be crucified. And their voices, and those of the chief priests, prevailed. ²⁴ And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they demanded. ²⁵ And he released him that for a seditious movement, and for murder, had been thrown into prison, whom they demanded; but Jesus, he delivered up to their will.