Matthew 27:15-26 - Pilate Releases Barabbas

¹⁵ And at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired; ¹⁶ and they then had a noted prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ When, therefore, they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do ye desire that I should release to you? Barabbas or Jesus Who is called Christ?" ¹⁸ For he knew that because of envy they delivered Him up.

¹⁹ And, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that Righteous One; for I suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

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

²² Pilate says to them, "What, then, shall I do to Jesus Who is called Christ?" They all say, "Let Him be crucified."

²³ But he said, "Why, what evil did He perform?" And they were crying out the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

²⁴ And Pilate, seeing that it availed nothing, but rather a tumult was being made, taking water, washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this Man. Ye shall see to it."

²⁵ And all the people, answering, said, "His blood be upon us, and upon our children." ²⁶ Then he released to them Barabbas; but, 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 asked of him. ⁷ And there was one called Barabbas, bound with the insurgents, who, in the insurrection, had committed murder. ⁸ And, coming up, the multitude began to ask him to do as he was wont to do to them. ⁹ And Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ¹⁰ (For he was coming to understand that because of envy the high priests had delivered Him up). ¹¹ But the high priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release to them Barabbas.

¹² And Pilate, again answering, said to them, "What, then, shall I do to Him Whom ye call the King of the Jews?"

¹³ And they cried out again, "Crucify Him!"

¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil did He do?" But they cried out vehemently, "Crucify Him!"

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

¹³ And Pilate, calling together the high priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ said to them, "Ye brought to me This Man as One perverting the people and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, found no fault in This Man regarding those things of which ye accuse Him; ¹⁵ no, nor yet Herod; for he sent Him hack to us; and, behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him. ¹⁶ Chastising Him, therefore, I will release Him" ¹⁷ OMITTED TEXT.

¹⁸ But they cried out again with all the multitude, saying, "Away with Him! and release to us Barabbas!"??19 one who, indeed, because of a certain insurrection made in the city, and of murder, was cast into prison.

²⁰ And again Pilate called to them, wishing to release Jesus. ²¹ But they kept calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!"

²² But he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil did This Man do? I found in Him nothing worthy of death. Chastising Him, therefore, I will release Him."

²³ But they were urgent, with loud voices, asking that He might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴ And Pilate gave judgment that their request should be executed; ²⁵ and he released him who, because of insurrection and murder, had been cast into prison, for whom they were asking; but he delivered up Jesus to their will.