Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ "Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired; ¹⁶ and at this time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them. "Whom shall I release to you," he said, "Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?" ¹⁸ For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been brought before him.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."

²⁰ The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus. ²¹ So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?" --they cried, "Barabbas!"

²² "What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"

²³ "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they kept on furiously shouting, "Let him be crucified!"

²⁴ So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it."

²⁵ "His blood," replied all the people, "be on us and on our children!" ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.

⁶ Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment; ⁷ and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸ So the people came crowding up, asking Pilate to grant them the usual favour. ⁹ "Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate. ¹⁰ For he could see that it was out of sheer spite that the High Priests had handed Him over. ¹¹ But the High Priests urged on the crowd to obtain Barabbas's release in preference;

¹² and when Pilate again asked them, "What then shall I do to the man you call King of the Jews?"

¹³ they once more shouted out, "Crucify Him!"

¹⁴ "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they vehemently shouted, "Crucify Him!"

¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them, and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

¹³ Then calling together the High Priests and the Rulers and the people, Pilate said, ¹⁴ "You have brought this man to me on a charge of corrupting the loyalty of the people. But, you see, I have examined him in your presence and have discovered in the man no ground for the accusations which you bring against him. ¹⁵ No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death. ¹⁶ I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him." ¹⁷ No translation

¹⁸ Then the whole multitude burst out into a shout. "Away with this man," they said, "and release Barabbas to us" ¹⁹ No translation

²⁰ But Pilate once more addressed them, wishing to set Jesus free. ²¹ They, however, persistently shouted, "Crucify, crucify him!"

²² A third time he appealed to them: "Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him."

²³ But they urgently insisted, demanding with frantic outcries that He should be crucified; and their clamour prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave judgement, yielding to their demand. ²⁵ The man who was lying in prison charged with riot and murder and for whom they clamoured he set free, but Jesus he gave up to be dealt with as they desired.