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When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"
Verse Takeaways
1
Pilate's Failed Plan
Commentators agree that Pilate knew Jesus was innocent and that the religious leaders acted from envy. He devised a plan, using a Passover custom, to force the crowd's hand. By offering a choice between Jesus, whom he called 'the Christ,' and a notorious murderer named Barabbas, Pilate expected the people to choose Jesus. His political gamble, however, badly misjudged the priests' influence and the crowd's volatility.
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Matthew
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9
18th Century
Presbyterian
Whom will ye that I release, etc. Pilate was convinced of the innocence of Jesus (Luke 23:13–16). He therefore desired to rele…
Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ? (Βαραββαν η Ιησουν τον λεγομενον Χριστον; ). Pilate was catching at straws or seeking an…
19th Century
Anglican
Whom will you have me release to you? —This, we must remember, was all but the last attempt of Pilate to shift from himself the dreaded bu…
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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…
The “crowd” was the crowd of those trying to influence the selection of the prisoner who would receive amnesty (cf. Mark 15:8). Pilate s…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Therefore when they were gathered together Meaning not the chief priests and elders; for these were together before,…
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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:<…
