Matthew 27:15-26

Expanded Bible

Pilate Tries to Free Jesus^(A)

¹⁵ Every year at the ·time of Passover [festival/feast] the governor would free [^Lfor the crowd] one prisoner whom the people chose. ¹⁶ At that time there was a man in prison, named Barabbas,^[a] who was ·known to be very bad [well known; notorious]. ¹⁷ When the people gathered, Pilate said, “Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas^[b] or Jesus who is called the ·Christ [Messiah]?” ¹⁸ [^LFor] Pilate knew that they turned Jesus in to him because they were jealous.

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting there on the judge’s seat [^Ca special seat for speeches or judicial pronouncements], his wife sent this message to him: “·Don’t do anything to [or Have nothing to do with] that man, because he is ·innocent [righteous]. Today I had a dream about him, and it ·troubled me very much [caused me great pain/anguish].”

²⁰ But the ·leading [^Tchief] priests and elders convinced the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be freed and for Jesus to be ·killed [executed].

²¹ Pilate said, “Which of these two do you want me to set free for you?”

The people answered, “Barabbas.”

²² Pilate asked, “So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the ·Christ [Messiah]?”

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ Pilate asked, “Why? What ·wrong [crime; evil] has he done?”

But they shouted louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he ·could do nothing about this [was getting nowhere; was gaining nothing] and that a riot was starting, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. Then he said, “I am ·not guilty [innocent] of this man’s ·death [^Lblood]. ·You are the ones who are causing it [It is your responsibility now; or Take care of it yourselves]!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “·We and our children will be responsible for his death [^LHis blood be on us and on our children].”

²⁶ Then he set Barabbas free. But he had Jesus ·beaten with whips [scourged; flogged] and handed over to the soldiers to be crucified.