Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 15:11

"But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them." — Mark 15:11 (ASV)

Pilate had attempted to deflect the purpose of the crowd and substitute the release of Jesus instead of Barabbas. This was a serious threat to the murderous purposes of the chief priests. They were not about to allow Jesus to slip through their fingers through some Passover Feast clemency custom. No other alternative was open to them but to urge the crowd to force Pilate to carry out their original request—the release of Jesus Barabbas, not Jesus of Nazareth.