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The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

15 (A)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or (B)Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out (C)of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on (D)the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with (E)that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today (F)in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to (G)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (H)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why, (I)what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that (J)a riot was beginning, he took water and (K)washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of (L)this man's blood;[a] (M)see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, (N)“His blood be on us and (O)on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having (P)scourged[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

27 (Q)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the (R)governor's headquarters,[c] and they gathered the whole (S)battalion[d] before him. 28 And they stripped him and put (T)a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they (U)mocked him, saying, “Hail, (V)King of the Jews!” 30 And (W)they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and (X)led him away to crucify him.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:24 Some manuscripts this righteous blood, or this righteous man's blood
  2. Matthew 27:26 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing imbedded pieces of bone and metal
  3. Matthew 27:27 Greek the praetorium
  4. Matthew 27:27 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men