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Now at the feast the governor used to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they wanted.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Political Ploy
Commentators widely agree that the custom of releasing a prisoner was not a Jewish religious law but a Roman political strategy. Scholars like Gill and Barnes explain that the governor likely did this annually at Passover to gain favor with the Jewish people, make Roman rule more tolerable, and prevent uprisings. It was a human custom, not a divine command.
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Matthew
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9
18th Century
Presbyterian
At that feast. The feast of the Passover.
The governor was wont to release, etc. He was accustomed to release a prisoner. …
19th Century
Anglican
The governor was accustomed to release
It is not known when this practice began or whether it was primarily a Jewish or a R…
Baptist
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Ba…
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In Roman law an imperial magistrate could acquit a prisoner not yet condemned or pardon one already condemned; but the gospel accounts make this a …
16th Century
Protestant
Now the governor was wont at the festival. This describes to us, on the one hand, the insatiable cruelty of the priests, and on the other,…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Now at [that] feast The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "at every feast": which looks as if the authors …
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Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged Him to clear Himself and labored to get Him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God h…
13th Century
Catholic
Above, the Evangelist recounted what Christ suffered from the Jews; here, he recounts what He suffered from the Gentiles. And he does four things:<…
