Matthew 27:15-24

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. ¹⁶And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷So 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?” ¹⁸For he knew that it was out ^(C)of envy that they had delivered him up. ¹⁹Besides, 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.” ²⁰Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ^(G)ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²²Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” ^(H)They all said, “Let him be crucified!” ²³And 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

²⁴So 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.”