Matthew 27:15-26
Evangelical Heritage Version
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 At the time of the Festival the governor had a custom to release to the crowd any one prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. 17 So when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you? Barabbas—or Jesus, who is called Christ?” 18 For Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife sent him a message. “Have nothing to do with that righteous man,” she said, “since I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
“Barabbas!” they said.
22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Crucify him!”
23 But the governor said, “Why? What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting even louder: “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing and that instead it was turning into a riot, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood. It is your responsibility.”
25 And all the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.
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 Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software