Taking the Place of Barabbas(A)

15 (B)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called [a]Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of (C)envy.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

20 (D)But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, (E)“Barabbas!”

22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

23 Then the governor said, (F)“Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a [b]tumult was rising, he (G)took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this [c]just Person. You see to it.

25 And all the people answered and said, (H)“His blood be on us and on our children.”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when (I)he had [d]scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(J)

27 (K)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the [e]Praetorium and gathered the whole [f]garrison around Him. 28 And they (L)stripped Him and (M)put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 (N)When they had [g]twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then (O)they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, (P)and led Him away to be crucified.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:16 NU Jesus Barabbas
  2. Matthew 27:24 an uproar
  3. Matthew 27:24 NU omits just
  4. Matthew 27:26 flogged with a Roman scourge
  5. Matthew 27:27 The governor’s headquarters
  6. Matthew 27:27 cohort
  7. Matthew 27:29 Lit. woven

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