Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ And at that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed him over.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered greatly today in a dream because of him."

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

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

²³ And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves."

²⁵ And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

⁶ Now at the feast he was accustomed to release for them one prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ And with the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. ⁸ And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he had always done for them. ⁹ But Pilate answered them, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ¹⁰ For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

¹² And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?"

¹³ And they cried out again, "Crucify him!"

¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!"

¹⁵ So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, "You have brought this man to me as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. And behold, having examined him in your presence, I have found no guilt in this man concerning those charges which you make against him; ¹⁵ neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him; ¹⁶ I will therefore chastise him and release him." ¹⁷ But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"

¹⁸ a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder. ¹⁹ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed to them again.

²⁰ But they shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him!" ²¹ Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death. I will therefore chastise him and release him."

²² But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

²³ So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. ²⁴ And he released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will. ²⁵ And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.