Matthew 27:15
New International Version
Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.

New Living Translation
Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.

English Standard Version
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

Berean Standard Bible
Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.

Berean Literal Bible
And at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the multitude, whom they were wishing.

King James Bible
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

New King James Version
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.

New American Standard Bible
Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.

NASB 1995
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted.

NASB 1977
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the multitude any one prisoner whom they wanted.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.

Amplified Bible
Now at the feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner whom the people chose.

Christian Standard Bible
At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted.

American Standard Version
Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Now, at every feast, the Governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the people, whomever they had chosen.

Contemporary English Version
During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now upon the solemn day the governor was accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.

English Revised Version
Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At every Passover festival the governor would free one prisoner whom the crowd wanted.

Good News Translation
At every Passover Festival the Roman governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner the crowd asked for.

International Standard Version
At every festival the governor had a custom of releasing to the crowd any prisoner whom they wanted.

Literal Standard Version
And at the celebration the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed,

Majority Standard Bible
Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.

New American Bible
Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished.

NET Bible
During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted.

New Revised Standard Version
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted.

New Heart English Bible
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner, whom they desired.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now at that feast, the governor was wont to release to the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Weymouth New Testament
"Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;

World English Bible
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.

Young's Literal Translation
And at the feast the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Crowd Chooses Barabbas
14But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor’s amazement. 15Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.…

Cross References
Matthew 27:16
At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.

Mark 15:6
Now it was Pilate's custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.

Luke 23:17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

Luke 23:18
But they all cried out in unison: "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"

John 18:16
But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.

John 18:39
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"


Treasury of Scripture

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release to the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Matthew 26:5
But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Mark 15:6,8
Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired…

Luke 23:16,17
I will therefore chastise him, and release him

Jump to Previous
Accustomed Chosen Crowd Custom Desired Feast Festival Free Governor Governor's Multitude Populace Prisoner Release Ruler Selection Wanted Way Whomsoever Willed Wont
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Accustomed Chosen Crowd Custom Desired Feast Festival Free Governor Governor's Multitude Populace Prisoner Release Ruler Selection Wanted Way Whomsoever Willed Wont
Matthew 27
1. Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate.
3. Judas hangs himself.
19. Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20. and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas.
27. Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33. crucified;
39. reviled;
50. dies, and is buried;
62. his tomb is sealed and watched.














(15) The governor was wont to release.--It is not known when the practice began, nor whether it was primarily a Jewish or a Roman one. The fact that the release of criminals was a common incident of a Latin lectisternium, or feast in honour of the gods, makes the latter the more probable. If introduced by Pilate (and this is the only recorded instance of the practice) it was, we may believe, a concession intended to conciliate those whom his previous severities had alienated. Before this stage of the proceedings we have to place (1) the second conference between Pilate and the priests after his dialogue with our Lord (Luke 23:4-5), and their definite charge of sedition, now urged for the first time; and (2) his attempt, catching at the word "Galilee" as the scene of our Lord's work, to transfer the responsibility of judging to Herod (Luke 23:6-12).

Verses 15-26. - Barabbas preferred to Jesus. (Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:17-25; John 18:39, 40.) Verse 15. - Pilate now tries another expedient for delivering himself from the responsibility of condemning Jesus. At that feast (κατὰ ἑορτήν, at a feast, at feast time). Doubtless the Passover is meant, which was the feast especially of the Jews, and it is very improbable that the practice mentioned in the clause was allowed at any other of the feasts. The governor was wont to release unto the people (τῷ ὄχλῳ, the multitude), etc. St. Luke says, "Of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast." The custom is not elsewhere mentioned. It was, however, most probably an institution established of old time in memory of the Exodus (John 18:39), and continued by the Romans when they became masters of the country. A similar custom obtained at Rome and in Greece on certain great festivals. Whom they would. The governor usually left the priests and people unfettered in their choice; on the present occasion he desired Jesus to be selected.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Now
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[it was] the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

governor’s
ἡγεμὼν (hēgemōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2232: From hegeomai; a leader, i.e. Chief person of a province.

custom
εἰώθει (eiōthei)
Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1486: To be accustomed, custom, what was customary. A primary verb; to be used; neuter perfect participle usage.

at
Κατὰ (Kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

[the] feast
ἑορτὴν (heortēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1859: A festival, feast, periodically recurring. Of uncertain affinity; a festival.

to release
ἀπολύειν (apolyein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 630: From apo and luo; to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss, or let die, pardon or divorce.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

crowd
ὄχλῳ (ochlō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

a
ἕνα (hena)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

prisoner
δέσμιον (desmion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1198: One bound, a prisoner. From desmon; a captive.

of
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

their choosing.
ἤθελον (ēthelon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 27:15 Now at the feast the governor was (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 27:14
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