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In this lesson:
Choose one (27:15-23). Pilate sentences Jesus to death (27:24-26). God's divine plan of salvation is about to be implemented. Study Tip: Look for something to avoid in this passage. |
Barabbas.
From the 2000 movie, "The Miracle Maker." |
Who was -
Barabbas -
A notorious thief (Matthew 27:16; John 18:40) and murderer (Acts 3:14; Luke 23:18-19) who was arrested for taking part in an insurrection against Rome (Mark 15:7). During the Passover holiday, it was customary for the Romans to release one prisoner chosen by the people as a gesture of goodwill to the Jews (John 18:39). Governor Pontius Pilate offered the crowd a choice between releasing Barabbas or Jesus. However, the corrupt priests persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas and demand the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11). So, Barabbas was freed and Jesus punished in his place. Interestingly, the name Barabbas means "son of the father," which many would argue is a more fitting title for Jesus.
Barabbas -
A notorious thief (Matthew 27:16; John 18:40) and murderer (Acts 3:14; Luke 23:18-19) who was arrested for taking part in an insurrection against Rome (Mark 15:7). During the Passover holiday, it was customary for the Romans to release one prisoner chosen by the people as a gesture of goodwill to the Jews (John 18:39). Governor Pontius Pilate offered the crowd a choice between releasing Barabbas or Jesus. However, the corrupt priests persuaded the crowd to choose Barabbas and demand the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11). So, Barabbas was freed and Jesus punished in his place. Interestingly, the name Barabbas means "son of the father," which many would argue is a more fitting title for Jesus.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 27:15-26
Jesus is sentenced to death 15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. |
Margin notes:
"At that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would." (27:15) - "At each (Passover) feast, the governor would usually release a prisoner of the peoples choosing." "They had then a notable prisoner." (27:16) - "They had a notorious prisoner." "His wife sent unto him." (27:19) - Pilate's wife was Claudia Procula. Tradition has it that she later converted to Christianity. "Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?" (27:21) - "Which of the two should I release to you?" "The governor said, Why, what evil hath he done?" (27:23) - At first, Pilate was determined to release Jesus (Acts 3:13) but succumbed to pressure. "Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made." (27:24) - "Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, and that a riot was breaking out." "See ye to it." (27:24) - "You're responsible for it." "When he had scourged Jesus." (27:26) - "When they whipped Jesus." To be scourged was to be stripped to the waist, bent over and tied to a post, then flogged with a whip. Roman whips (flagellants) were made of several leather straps. The tip of each strap was embedded with a piece of sharp bone or jagged metal designed to dig into the flesh. Often, the victim's ribs and bones were broken, and internal organs exposed as the bone and metal tore away pieces of flesh and muscle. Careless spectators who got too close were spattered with blood. A Roman scourging was so brutal and prolonged that many victims died before they were crucified. Jesus was scourged before being led to Calvary. Neither of the thieves crucified with Jesus was scourged, and both survived longer on the cross. Additional note: Isaiah 50:6 and 53:5 prophesied Jesus' scourging seven hundred years before He was born. |
You can learn more about Jesus' trial and scourging in John 18:39-19:16.
New Living Translation
Matthew 27:15-26
15 Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd-anyone they wanted.
16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.
17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you-Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night."
20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
21 So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?"
The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!"
22 Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
23 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!"
24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!"
25 And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death-we and our children!"
26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
15 Now it was the governor's custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd-anyone they wanted.
16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas.
17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate's house that morning, he asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you-Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: "Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night."
20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.
21 So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?"
The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!"
22 Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
They shouted back, "Crucify him!"
23 "Why?" Pilate demanded. "What crime has he committed?"
But the mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!"
24 Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!"
25 And all the people yelled back, "We will take responsibility for his death-we and our children!"
26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas." (27:21)
"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." (27:24-25)
"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." (27:24-25)
Today's Question:
1. Who is responsible for Jesus' death, Pontius Pilate or the high priest Caiaphas?
Explore your Bible every day; these readings shouldn't be your only contact with God.
1. Who is responsible for Jesus' death, Pontius Pilate or the high priest Caiaphas?
Explore your Bible every day; these readings shouldn't be your only contact with God.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin conspired against Jesus out of envy (27:18) and fear of losing their political power. However, Pilate also bears responsibility; he condemned a man he knew was innocent to death (27:24). The Sadducees, Pharisees, scribes, Pilate, and Judas, who betrayed Jesus, all share the guilt. But in reality, aren't we all culpable? Wasn't it our sins that led to Jesus' death? Don't we all need the salvation and forgiveness that comes from our Lord's sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5)?
Application thought for the day:
In verse 27:22, Pontius Pilate asks, "What shall I do then with Jesus?" This question was significant then and remains significant today. How do you answer Pilate's question?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series," published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible," published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version, published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament," published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation," published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible," published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke