Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ And at the feast the procurator was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they chose; ¹⁶ and he then had a noted prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ When, therefore, they were assembled together, Pilate said to them, Which do you wish me to release to you? Barabbas? or Jesus, called Christ? ¹⁸ For he knew that they had delivered him up from envy.

¹⁹ And as he sat on the tribunal his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered much to-day on his account, from a dream.

²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus. ²¹ And the procurator answered and said to them, Which of the two do you wish me to release to you? And they said, Barabbas.

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

²³ But he said, [No]; for what evil has he done? And they cried more vehemently, saying, Let him be crucified.

²⁴ And Pilate seeing that he accomplished nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this man; see you to it.

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

⁶ And at the feast he released to them a prisoner, whomsoever they chose. ⁷ And there was a man called Barabbas, bound with the insurgents, who had committed murder in a sedition. ⁸ And the multitude went up and requested as he had always done to them. ⁹ And Pilate answered them, saying, Do you wish me to release to you the king of the Jews? ¹⁰ For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him up from envy. ¹¹ But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas to them.

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

¹³ And they cried again, Crucify him!

¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, [Why]? for what evil has he done? But they cried more violently, Crucify him!

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

¹³ And Pilate having called the chief priests, and rulers, and the people, ¹⁴ said to them, You have brought me this man as one that perverts the people; and behold, having had an examination before you, I have found in this man no cause for the charges which you bring against him, ¹⁵ but neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by him; ¹⁶ having chastised him therefore, I will release him. ¹⁷ (Added verse not retained in Sawyer)

¹⁸ And the whole multitude cried out, saying, Take away this man, and release to us Barabbas; ¹⁹ who had been cast into prison for a certain sedition made in the city, and a murder.

²⁰ Pilate therefore addressed them again, wishing to release Jesus; ²¹ but they replied, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

²² And he said to them a third time, [Why], for what evil has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him; having chastised him therefore, I will release him.

²³ And they beset him with loud cries, demanding that he should be crucified; and their cries, and those of the chief priests, prevailed; ²⁴ and Pilate answered, that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ And he released him that was cast into prison for sedition and murder, whom they desired, and delivered up Jesus to their will.