Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
- BSB Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.
- NKJV Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.
- NASB Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.
- NLT Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.
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 notes the custom of releasing one prisoner at the feast by popular request. This sets up his attempt to free Jesus.
Overview
Matthew records a Passover custom by which the governor freed a prisoner the crowd chose. Pilate seizes on this practice as a possible way to release Jesus while keeping peace. The custom becomes the stage on which the crowd's fateful choice between Jesus and Barabbas will be made.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 26:5But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
- John 18:38–40Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
- John 19:16So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away.
- Luke 23:16I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
- Acts 25:9But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be judged by me there concerning these things?”
- Acts 24:27But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
- Mark 15:6–15Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 27:15 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
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