Matthew 27:15-26
Christian Standard Bible
Jesus or Barabbas
15 At the festival(A) the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.[a] 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” (B) 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over.
19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”(C)
20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.
22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all answered, “Crucify him!” (D)
23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!” (E)
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.[b] See to it yourselves!” (F)
25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us(G) and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.(H)
Read full chapter
Matthew 27:15-26
Lexham English Bible
Pilate Releases Barabbas
15 Now at each feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd—the one whom they wanted. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus[a] Barabbas.[b] 17 So after[c] they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you—Jesus[d] Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy. 19 And while[e] he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message[f] to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,[g] for I have suffered much as a result of a dream today because of him.”) 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and put Jesus to death. 21 So the governor answered and[h] said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then should I do with Jesus, the one who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they began to shout[i] even louder, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So Pilate, when he[j] saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but instead an uproar was developing, took water and[k] washed his[l] hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it!”[m] 25 And all the people answered and[n] said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but after[o] he had Jesus flogged, he handed him[p] over so that he could be crucified.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 27:16 Although many manuscripts omit “Jesus” here, it is so hard to explain why a scribe would have added it that the reading is probably original
- Matthew 27:16 “Barabbas” means “son of the father” in Aramaic
- Matthew 27:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
- Matthew 27:17 Although many manuscripts omit “Jesus” here, it is so hard to explain why a scribe would have added it that the reading is probably original
- Matthew 27:19 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was sitting”)
- Matthew 27:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 27:19 Literally “nothing to you and to that righteous man”
- Matthew 27:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 27:23 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to shout”)
- Matthew 27:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 27:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 27:24 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Matthew 27:24 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 27:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 27:26 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 27:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software