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Matthew 27:15-23
New International Version
Matthew 27:15-23
New International Version
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!”
Footnotes
- Matthew 27:16 Many manuscripts do not have Jesus; also in verse 17.
Matthew 27:15-23
King James Version
Matthew 27:15-23
King James Version
15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
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Matthew 27:15-23
New King James Version
Matthew 27:15-23
New King James Version
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!”
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- Matthew 27:16 NU Jesus Barabbas
Matthew 27:15-23
English Standard Version
Matthew 27:15-23
English Standard Version
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 judgment 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!”
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Matthew 27:15-23
New American Standard Bible
Matthew 27:15-23
New American Standard Bible
15 (A)Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the [a]people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus (B)who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was because of envy that [b]they had handed Him over.
19 And (C)while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that (D)righteous Man; for [c]last night I suffered greatly (E)in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to (F)ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. 21 And the governor [d]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 (G)who is called Christ?” They all *said, “[e]Crucify Him!” 23 But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “[f]Crucify Him!”
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- Matthew 27:15 Lit crowd
- Matthew 27:18 I.e., the Jewish leaders
- Matthew 27:19 Lit today
- Matthew 27:21 Lit answering, said to them
- Matthew 27:22 Lit Have Him crucified
- Matthew 27:23 Lit Have Him crucified
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.