Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?" ¹⁸ (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)

¹⁹ As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: "Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today."

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. ²¹ The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas!"

²² Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" They all said, "Crucify him!"

²³ He asked, "Why? What wrong has he done?" But they shouted more insistently, "Crucify him!"

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. You take care of it yourselves!"

²⁵ In reply all the people said, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

⁶ During the feast it was customary to release one prisoner to the people, whomever they requested. ⁷ A man named Barabbas was imprisoned with rebels who had committed murder during an insurrection. ⁸ Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom. ⁹ So Pilate asked them, "Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?" ¹⁰ (For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead.

¹² So Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?"

¹³ They shouted back, "Crucify him!"

¹⁴ Pilate asked them, "Why? What has he done wrong?" But they shouted more insistently, "Crucify him!"

¹⁵ Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

¹³ Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. ¹⁵ Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him." ¹⁷ [[EMPTY]]

¹⁸ But they all shouted out together, "Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!" ¹⁹ (This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. ²¹ But they kept on shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"

²² A third time he said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him."

²³ But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.