So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”
Parallel translations
- WEB But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
- KJV The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
- BSB “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.
- NKJV The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
- NASB And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
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
When asked which prisoner to release, the crowd shouts for Barabbas. They reject Jesus in favor of a criminal.
Overview
Pilate's direct question receives the chilling answer 'Barabbas,' as the swayed crowd chooses the guilty man over the innocent. The decision seals the rejection of the Messiah by His own people's voice. Yet in this very injustice the gospel pattern shines: the sinner goes free because Christ takes his place.
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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 27:21 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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