Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner, whom they desired. ¹⁶ They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Messiah?" ¹⁸ For he knew that because of 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 righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."

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

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

²³ But he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they shouted all the louder, saying, "Let him be crucified."

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it."

²⁵ All the people answered, "May his blood be on us, and on our children." ²⁶ Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

⁶ Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they requested. ⁷ There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸ And the crowd went up and began to ask him to do as he always did for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ¹⁰ For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, that he should release Barabbas to them instead.

¹² Pilate again asked them, "What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?"

¹³ They shouted again, "Crucify him."

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

¹⁵ Pilate, wishing to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and see, I have examined him before you, and found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. ¹⁶ I will therefore chastise him and release him." ¹⁷ (Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.)

¹⁸ But they all shouted out together, saying, "Away with this man. Release to us Barabbas."? ¹⁹ one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

²⁰ Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus, ²¹ but they shouted, saying, "Crucify. Crucify him."

²² He said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him."

²³ But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done. ²⁵ He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.