Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was wont to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. ¹⁶ And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ When therefore they were assembled, Pilate said to them, Whom will ye that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ? ¹⁸ For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.

¹⁹ And while he was sitting on the judgmentseat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered much this day in a dream because of him.

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus. ²¹ And the governor answering said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release to you? And they said, Barabbas.

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

²³ And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

²⁴ And when Pilate saw that it availed nothing, but that rather a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of this blood; see ye to it.

²⁵ And all the people answering said, His blood be on us, and on our children. ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified.

⁶ Now at the feast he was wont to release to them one prisoner, whom they might ask. ⁷ And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with insurgents who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁸ And the multitude, coming up, began to ask him to do as he had been wont to do for them. ⁹ And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release to you the king of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he knew that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release to them Barabbas.

¹² And Pilate answering again said to them, What then would ye have me do with him whom ye call the king of the Jews?

¹³ And they cried out again, Crucify him!

¹⁴ Then Pilate said to them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more, Crucify him!

¹⁵ And Pilate, wishing to satisfy the multitude, released to them Barabbas; and, when he had scourged Jesus, delivered him up to be crucified.

¹³ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ said to them, Ye have brought to me this man, as one that perverteth the people; and behold, I have examined him before you, and have found nothing in this man to sustain the charges which ye bring against him. ¹⁵ No, nor yet Herod; for he hath sent him back to us; and lo! nothing deserving death hath been done by him. ¹⁶ I will therefore chastise, and release him. ¹⁷ Now it was necessary for him to release to them one at the feast.

¹⁸ And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas; ¹⁹ who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, had been cast into prison.

²⁰ But Pilate again spoke to them, wishing to release Jesus. ²¹ But they cried out, saying, Crucify, crucify him!

²² And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found him guilty of nothing deserving death; I will therefore chastise, and release him.

²³ But they were urgent with loud voices, demanding that he should he crucified; and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ And Pilate gave sentence that what they demanded should be done. ²⁵ And he released him who for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.