Jesus or Barabbas

15 At the festival(A) the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.[a] 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas,[b] or Jesus who is called Messiah?”(B) 18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!”(C)

20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”

“Barabbas!” they answered.

22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?”

They all answered, “Crucify Him!”[c](D)

23 Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”

But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.(E)

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,[d] but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.[e] See to it yourselves!”(F)

25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us(G) and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged,[f] he handed Him over to be crucified.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:16 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas
  2. Matthew 27:17 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas
  3. Matthew 27:22 Lit “Him—be crucified!”
  4. Matthew 27:24 Lit that it availed nothing
  5. Matthew 27:24 Other mss read this righteous man’s blood
  6. Matthew 27:26 Roman flogging was done with a whip made of leather strips embedded with pieces of bone or metal that brutally tore the flesh.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner(A) chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[a] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(B) 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat,(C) his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent(D) man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream(E) because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.(F)

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”(G) Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar(H) was starting, he took water and washed his hands(I) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”(J) he said. “It is your responsibility!”(K)

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”(L)

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,(M) and handed him over to be crucified.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.

Jesus or Barabbas

At(A) the festival(B) it was Pilate’s(C) custom to release for the people a prisoner they requested. There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder(D) during the rebellion.(E) The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. So Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the King(F) of the Jews(G) for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envy(H) that the chief priests had handed Him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What has He done wrong?”

But they shouted, “Crucify Him!” all the more.

15 Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged,[a] he handed Him over to be crucified.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 15:15 Roman flogging was done with a whip made of leather strips embedded with pieces of bone or metal that brutally tore the flesh.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(A) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(B) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(C) and handed him over to be crucified.

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Jesus or Barabbas

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,(A) 14 and said to them, “You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people.(B) But in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds(C) to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will have Him whipped[a](D) and then release Him.” [17 For according to the festival he had to release someone to them.][b](E)

18 Then(F) they all cried out together, “Take this man away!(G) Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (He had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)

20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus,(H) addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify! Crucify Him!”

22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What has this man done wrong?(I) I have found in Him no grounds(J) for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him whipped and then release Him.”

23 But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices[c] won out. 24 So(K) Pilate decided to grant their demand(L) 25 and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:16 Gk paideuo; to discipline or “teach a lesson”; 1Kg 12:11,14 LXX; 2Ch 10:11,14; perhaps a way of referring to the Roman scourging; Lat flagellatio
  2. Luke 23:17 Other mss omit bracketed text
  3. Luke 23:23 Other mss add and those of the chief priests

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(A) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(B) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(C) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(D)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.