John Calvin 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)

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude. The Evangelist points out the chief instigators of the wicked proceedings. This is not to say that the foolish credulity of the people, who were influenced by others, is excusable; rather, the purpose is to inform us that they were not, of their own accord, hostile to Christ, but rather that, having sold themselves to gratify the priests, they forget all justice and modesty,²⁶⁰ as well as their own salvation.

From this we learn how pernicious the influence of wicked men is, who can easily turn the giddy and changeable multitude in every direction, towards all kinds of wickedness. Yet we must attend to the Evangelist's design, which was to show that the death of Christ was so eagerly demanded by the voice of the people, not because he was universally hated, but because the greater part of them, ambitiously desirous to follow the inclination of their rulers, threw aside all regard for justice and could be said to have sold and enslaved their tongue to the wicked conspiracy of a few.

²⁶⁰ “Toute equité mosiste, et honnesteté:” — “all justice, modesty, and propriety.”:” — “all justice, modesty, and propriety.”