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.

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Footnotes

  1. 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
  2. Matthew 27:16 “Barabbas” means “son of the father” in Aramaic
  3. Matthew 27:17 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had assembled”)
  4. 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
  5. Matthew 27:19 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was sitting”)
  6. Matthew 27:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Matthew 27:19 Literally “nothing to you and to that righteous man”
  8. Matthew 27:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Matthew 27:23 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to shout”)
  10. Matthew 27:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  11. Matthew 27:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  12. Matthew 27:24 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  13. Matthew 27:24 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. Matthew 27:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Matthew 27:26 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“flogged”) which is understood as temporal
  16. Matthew 27:26 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

15 Now de at kata festival heortē time the governor hēgemōn was accustomed eiōtha · ho to release apolyō one heis prisoner desmios for the ho crowd ochlos, whomever hos they wanted thelō. 16 At that time tote they were holding echō · de in custody a notorious episēmos prisoner desmios named legō Jesus Iēsous Barabbas Barabbas. 17 So oun when the crowd autos had gathered synagō, Pilate Pilatos said legō to them autos, · ho Which tis one do you want thelō me to release apolyō for you hymeis: Jesus Iēsous · ho Barabbas Barabbas, or ē Jesus Iēsous who ho is called legō Messiah Christos?” 18 For gar he knew oida that hoti it was out dia of envy phthonos that they had handed paradidōmi him autos over . 19 But de while Pilate autos was sitting kathēmai on epi the ho judgment bēma seat , his autos wife gynē sent apostellō him autos · ho a message, saying legō, “Have nothing mēdeis · kai to do with ho that ekeinos innocent dikaios man ; for gar I have suffered paschō many polys things in kata a dream onar today sēmeron on dia account of him autos.” 20 But de the ho ruling archiereus priests and kai the ho elders presbyteros persuaded peithō the ho crowds ochlos to hina ask aiteō for · ho Barabbas Barabbas · ho and de to have Jesus Iēsous executed apollymi. 21 Once again the ho governor hēgemōn asked apokrinomai · de them autos, “ Which tis of apo the ho two dyo do you want thelō me to release apolyō for you hymeis?” And de they ho said legō, · ho Barabbas Barabbas.” 22 Pilate Pilatos said legō to them autos, · ho Then oun what tis shall I do poieō with Jesus Iēsous who ho is called legō Messiah Christos?” With one voice pas they shouted legō, “ Let him be crucified stauroō!” 23 Pilate ho · de asked phēmi, “ But gar what tis crime kakos has he committed poieō?” But de they ho shouted krazō all the louder perissōs, “ Crucify stauroō him !” 24 So de when Pilate Pilatos saw · ho that hoti he was getting ōpheleō nowhere oudeis but alla rather mallon that a riot thorybos was starting ginomai, he took lambanō water hydōr and washed aponiptō his ho hands cheir before apenanti the ho crowd ochlos, saying legō, “ I am eimi innocent athōos of apo · ho this man’ s houtos blood haima; it is your hymeis responsibility horaō.” 25 And kai all pas the ho people laos answered apokrinomai, saying legō, “Let · ho his autos blood haima be on epi us hēmeis and kai on epi · ho our hēmeis children teknon!” 26 Then tote he released apolyō Barabbas Barabbas for them autos, · ho · ho but de he scourged phragelloō Jesus Iēsous and handed paradidōmi him over to hina be crucified stauroō.

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