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15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired. 16 They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. 17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”

20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

23 But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?”

But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

24 So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.”

25 All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

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Jesus is Sentenced to Death(A)

15 At every festival[a] the governor had a custom of releasing to the crowd any prisoner whom they wanted. 16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.[b] 17 So when the people[c] had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which man do you want me to release for you—Barabbas,[d] or Jesus who is called ‘the Messiah’?”[e] 18 He did this[f] because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy.

19 While he was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him a message[g] that said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him.”

20 But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. 21 So the governor asked them, “Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?”

“Barabbas!” they replied.

22 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”[h]

They all said, “Let him be crucified!”

23 He asked, “What has he done wrong?”

But they kept shouting louder and louder, “Let him be crucified!”

24 Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s[i] blood. Attend to that yourselves.”

25 All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:15 I.e. Passover Festival
  2. Matthew 27:16 Other mss. read Jesus Barabbas
  3. Matthew 27:17 Lit. they
  4. Matthew 27:17 Other mss. read Jesus Barabbas
  5. Matthew 27:17 Or Christ
  6. Matthew 27:18 The Gk. lacks He did this
  7. Matthew 27:19 The Gk. lacks a message
  8. Matthew 27:22 Or Christ
  9. Matthew 27:24 Other mss. read this righteous man’s