Matthew 27:15-26
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!”
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So 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.” 25 And all the people answered, (N)“His blood be on us and (O)on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having (P)scourged[b] Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 27:24 Some manuscripts this righteous blood, or this righteous man's blood
- Matthew 27:26 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal
Matthew 27:15-26
Holman 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,[b] or Jesus who is called Messiah?”(B) 18 For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy.
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 Messiah?”
They all answered, “Crucify Him!”[c](D)
23 Then he said, “Why? What has He done wrong?”
But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him!” all the more.(E)
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,[d] 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.[e] 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. But after having Jesus flogged,[f] he handed Him over to be crucified.(H)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 27:16 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas
- Matthew 27:17 Other mss read Jesus Barabbas
- Matthew 27:22 Lit “Him—be crucified!”
- Matthew 27:24 Lit that it availed nothing
- Matthew 27:24 Other mss read this righteous man’s blood
- Matthew 27:26 Roman flogging was done with a whip made of leather strips embedded with pieces of bone or metal that brutally tore the flesh.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.