Matthew 27:16

Matthew 27:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
• New International Version (NIV)At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

Context of Matthew 27:16

14But Jesus did not reply to him, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor was greatly astonished. 15Now at the feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner whom the people chose. And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner [guilty of insurrection and murder], called Barabbas. 17So when they had assembled [for this purpose], Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.

Matthew 27:16 word by word

εἶχον δὲ τότε δέσμιον ἐπίσημον λεγόμενον Ἰησοῦν Βαραββᾶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• they hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• thenτότεtote · thenG5119
• a notableἐπίσημοςepisēmos · notableG1978
• prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
• calledλέγωlegō · to say: callG3004
• BarabbasΒαραββᾶςBarabbas · BarabbasG912

Cross-references for Matthew 27:16

• Mark 15:7The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion.
• Luke 23:18But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!”
• John 18:40Then they all shouted back again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
• Acts 3:14But you disowned and denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.
• Romans 1:32Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.

Commentaries on Matthew 27:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A notable prisoner - Barabbas - This person had, a short time before, raised an insurrection in Jerusalem, in which it appears, from Mark 15:7, some lives were lost. In some MSS., and in the Armenian and Syriac Hieros., this man has the surname of Jesus. Professor Birch has discovered this reading in a Vatican MS., written in 949, and numbered 354, in which is a marginal note which has been attributed to Anastasius, bishop of Antioch, and to Chrysostom…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 See also the parallel places in Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:17-23; John 18:39-40. Matthew 27:15 At that feast - The feast of the Passover. The governor was wont to release … - that is, was “accustomed” to release. From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted to secure popularity among the Jews, and to render the government of the Romans less odious. Any little indulgence granted to the Jews during…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-25Verses 11-25 Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are entering into…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16notorious prisoner named Barabbas: He is also called an "insurrectionist" (Mark 15:7; John 18:40). This word can also mean a robber or someone who led a revolt (see Luke 23:19). To the zealots, Barabbas was considered a hero.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 27:16

• Barabbas
• Jesus, the Christ
• Judge
• Prisoners
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Barabbas
• Accusation
• Notable
• Plat
• Seal
• Wag
• Watch
• Wont
• Armenian Versions, of the Bible
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on Matthew 27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings