And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.
Parallel translations
- WEB He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
- KJV And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
- BSB As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.
- NKJV And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
- NLT As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pilate released the guilty Barabbas and handed Jesus over to their will. The exchange dramatizes the heart of the gospel.
Overview
Luke pointedly contrasts the freed murderer with the condemned Savior delivered to the people's will. The guilty insurrectionist goes free while the innocent is led to death, a living parable of substitution. So Christ was delivered up for our trespasses, that we who deserve condemnation might be set at liberty.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Acts 3:14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
- Mark 15:15Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
- Mark 15:6–7Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.
- Matt 27:26Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
- Luke 23:2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
- 1 Sam 12:13Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for. Behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.
- Luke 23:5But they insisted, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.”
- John 18:40Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 23:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.