Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.
- BSB Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.
- NKJV Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
- NASB Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
- NLT Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone the people requested.
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 had a custom of releasing one prisoner at the feast. This sets up the fateful choice between Jesus and Barabbas.
Overview
The Passover amnesty provided a possible way to free Jesus. Pilate, recognizing Jesus' innocence, hopes to use the custom to release him. Instead it becomes the occasion of a tragic choice that exchanges a guilty man for the innocent one.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 18:39–40But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
- Acts 25:9But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
- Acts 24:27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
- Matt 26:2Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
- Matt 26:5But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
- Luke 23:16–25I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
- Matt 27:15–26Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
- John 19:16Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:6 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.