Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 23:17

"[Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner.]" — Luke 23:17 (ASV)

For of necessity he must release one to them.—Literally, he had a necessity. The better manuscripts are remarkably divided regarding this verse. Most omit it altogether. One manuscript, followed by some of the versions, includes it after Luke 23:19.

From these facts, it seems probable that the narrative was originally written without this verse. Subsequently, it was likely felt that the release of Barabbas required an explanation. Consequently, a note appears to have been first added in the margin—either by a transcriber or by the writer himself in a duplicate copy—which then found its way into the text.

The precise form of the phrase "to have a necessity" is not found in the other Gospels but is common to Saint Luke (Luke 11:18 and in this passage) and Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 7:37). It is also found in Hebrews 7:27 and Jude 1:3. Regarding the practice described here, see the note on Matthew 27:15.