Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 27:20

"Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus." — Matthew 27:20 (ASV)

The chief priests and elders — Brief as this statement is, it implies much: the members of the Sanhedrin standing before Pilate’s palace, mingling with the crowd, whispering—now to this man, now to that—praises for the robber, and scoffs and slander against the Christ. As the next verse shows, they did their work effectively.